RM Auctions Monaco Highlight: 1982 Renault RE30B Formula One
René Arnoux’ ride for eight races of the 1982 Formula 1 season, this mighty turbo Formula 1 car is an awesome example of one of Formula 1’s most spectacular chapters, and with racing history to boot it’s as significant as it is quick.
It’ll head to auction at RM Auctions’ Monaco sale, which will be held at Le Sporting on the 10th of May.
Images: Tom Wood Courtesy of RM Auctions
After entering Formula 1 in 1977, introducing turbocharged engines to the sport and spending two years developing their team and cars, Renault had been building in competitiveness. In 1979 they secured their first win. René Arnoux claimed two further in 1980, and Alain Prost another three in 1981.
1982 promised to be a good year, with Prost and Arnoux proving a formidable driver team, and an improved RE30 – the RE30B – underneath them.
The new car featured a redesigned nose and rear wing to aid its aerodynamics, and twenty additional horses leaping from its 1.5-litre twin-turbo motor. Formula 1 is an arms race, however, and Ferrari, Toleman, Brabham and Alfa Romeo all had cars with turbocharged 1.5-litre engines.
This car, chassis RE30B/F1 B7, was René Arnoux’ from the second round of the season, the Brazilian Grand Prix, until its last outing in the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Arnoux’ strength in the car, and in fact the car’s in general, seemed to be qualifying, and he secured pole position three times in it – at Imola, Monaco and Zandvoort. His best grand prix result was a 10th place finish in the Detroit Grand Prix.
From its Formula 1 career it went to former team manager Jean Sage, who had the engine fully rebuilt by Dominique Bachard in 1996. Since then it’s seen just three private owners and has been a regular competitor in historic racing.
Believed to be the only race-ready example of Renault’s RE30B currently in existence, this car is stunning in its original period racing livery and will be offered for sale by RM Auctions at their Monaco Sale on the 10th of May. Head to the official RM Auctions website here for the full details.
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Images: Tom Wood courtesy of RM Auctions
