In 1978, Renault-Alpine won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with an A442B prototype. On board, Didier Pironi and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud. A replica of this victorious model, belonging to the collection of Jean Guikas, will be up for auction on November 19 by RM Sotheby’s.
Jean Guikas, collector’s vehicle dealer from the South of France, has a weakness for competition cars. The vehicles he has been offering for sale since 1989 through his company GTC are mostly from his own garage. The man started very early, with the purchase of his first Ferrari at just 18 years old. Faded from the brand, he would have sold more than 600 in total for nearly three decades. But this time, Guikas decided to do otherwise. He entrusted the sale of 75 of his vehicles to the auction house RM Sotheby’s.
A sale full of nuggets
From 79 lots from the sale, which will take place on November 19 on the Paul Ricard circuit, some great nuggets: Lola T298 from 1978, Delahaye 135M Coupé from 1948, Saleen S7R from 2005, Prost AP02 F1 from 1999 … We will be returning to some of the most significant models in the sale by November, but let’s start right away with one: the Renault-Alpine A442.
The Renault-Alpine victorious at Le Mans
June 10, 1978, 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit. Four prototypes are entered by the Renault-Alpine team, in yellow, black and white. The A443, the most powerful, is equipped with a V6 2.2 turbo pushed to 530 hp. Piloted by Jean-Pierre Jabouille and Patrick Depailler, he leads the race until the 18e hour, ahead of the Porsche 936 “Moby Dick”. But its still experimental engine was blocked due to a technical choice: reducing the turbo boost pressure to save it was not doing its job and led the crew to abandon it.
Thereby, the A442B prototype n ° 2, piloted by Didier Pironi and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud, climbs up the rankings and ends up crossing the finish line with five laps ahead. It will be followed by one of the other crews, n ° 4 represented by Guy Fréquelin, Jean Ragnotti and José Dolhem in fourth position. Tried by the race and the stifling heat, Pironi collapsed before reaching the podium where Jaussaud awaits him, in tears against the backdrop of Marseillaise.
TO READ. 24 Hours of Le Mans 2021. Timetables, TV program and teams involved
A replica estimated between 4 and 5 million euros
This copy is a faithful replica of the A442B prototype that won the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans edition. If it does not have the same track record, and is based on a slightly different A442 chassis, the spirit is there. The model takes the colors of the Renault-Alpine team, which has also abandoned endurance to devote itself to Formula 1. the very evening of this victory. The victorious Renault-Alpine A442B was fitted with a 2.0 turbo V6 engine developing 500 hp, compared to 530 hp for the 2.2 V6 of the A443 prototype. This prototype with chassis number 4422 seems to be equipped with the V6 2.0. The vehicle sold by RM Sotheby’s on November 19 is estimated between 4 and 5 million euros, with no reserve price.
