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Alpine A350
The Alpine A350 was a Formula One car designed for Alpine by Richard Bouleau in 1968. The model was powered by a V8 engine from Renault-Gordini sports cars. It featured an innovative flat suspension system and was tested by Mauro Bianchi on the Zolder and Zandvoort tracks. However, the project was vetoed by Renault because the engine was 100 hp (total of 295 hp (220 kW) weaker than the Cosworth DFVs, resulting in the A350 never participating in a Grand Prix.
In the mid-1960s, Formula One underwent significant changes, including a new regulation that set the engine displacement limit to 3 liters (or 1.5 liters for turbocharged engines). At that time, engine suppliers in Formula One included companies like Maserati, Repco, Weslake, and Cosworth, with teams such as Lotus and Brabham among the clients. Manufacturers like Honda, Ferrari, and Matra even produced engines for their factory teams.
Jean Rédélé, the founder of Alpine, was secretly interested in entering Formula One. In 1963, he introduced Renault to the idea of entering the series, but due to Renault's conservative stance, he did not receive the company's support, and the Alpine F1 Team did not debut in Formula One at that time. Determined to enter the sport, Rédélé considered using a Gordini-produced V8 engine, despite its issues. Meanwhile, the French government announced a competition with a monetary prize for the "completely French" constructor who could present the most interesting car project. The favorite was Matra with its V12 engine. Amédée Gordini also wanted to participate with his V8 engine but did not have a suitable car. In 1968, Alpine agreed to collaborate with Gordini, considering that Brabham drivers had won titles between 1966 and 1967 with cars producing only 300 hp. Another reason was Alpine's success in Formula 2 and Formula 3.
Richard Bouleau was tasked with designing the car. He had designed his first car for a friend in 1962, and since 1963, he had been designing vehicles for Alpine. In 1965, Bouleau developed a concept for a flat suspension. Two years later, there were discussions about testing this solution, and the A350 model being built in Dieppe was chosen as the test platform. The car was constructed according to Formula One regulations. Initially, the A350 was considered an experimental project and was built in strict secrecy, but driver Mauro Bianchi convinced Jean Rédélé to attempt entering Formula One with the Alpine A350.
Bianchi joined Alpine in 1964. At Alpine, he was not only a racing driver but also a tester and technician. His first task was to evaluate the capabilities of the prototype A110 with a 1.1-liter engine, which he described as a "monster" due to its peculiar handling. Bianchi also raced for Alpine in Formula 2, Formula 3, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the company fielded models such as the M64 and M65 for him. From 1967 to 1968, he worked on the secret projects of the A220 and A350 models.
After an accident in the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans race, Bianchi stopped racing and focused on testing and developing cars. He returned to racing in March 1969, but after the death of his brother Lucien in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, he retired from racing and served as a test driver for Alpine until 1976.
The engine was called Renault-Gordini despite Renault forbidding Rédélé from placing Renault logos on Alpine cars in 1965. However, Renault was heavily involved in the engine's construction.
The engine had a displacement of 2,996 cc. The hemispherical cylinder heads were made of aluminum. The engine featured four twin-barrel carburetors. The ignition system, which also used ignition coils, came from Marelli.
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Alpine A350
The Alpine A350 was a Formula One car designed for Alpine by Richard Bouleau in 1968. The model was powered by a V8 engine from Renault-Gordini sports cars. It featured an innovative flat suspension system and was tested by Mauro Bianchi on the Zolder and Zandvoort tracks. However, the project was vetoed by Renault because the engine was 100 hp (total of 295 hp (220 kW) weaker than the Cosworth DFVs, resulting in the A350 never participating in a Grand Prix.
In the mid-1960s, Formula One underwent significant changes, including a new regulation that set the engine displacement limit to 3 liters (or 1.5 liters for turbocharged engines). At that time, engine suppliers in Formula One included companies like Maserati, Repco, Weslake, and Cosworth, with teams such as Lotus and Brabham among the clients. Manufacturers like Honda, Ferrari, and Matra even produced engines for their factory teams.
Jean Rédélé, the founder of Alpine, was secretly interested in entering Formula One. In 1963, he introduced Renault to the idea of entering the series, but due to Renault's conservative stance, he did not receive the company's support, and the Alpine F1 Team did not debut in Formula One at that time. Determined to enter the sport, Rédélé considered using a Gordini-produced V8 engine, despite its issues. Meanwhile, the French government announced a competition with a monetary prize for the "completely French" constructor who could present the most interesting car project. The favorite was Matra with its V12 engine. Amédée Gordini also wanted to participate with his V8 engine but did not have a suitable car. In 1968, Alpine agreed to collaborate with Gordini, considering that Brabham drivers had won titles between 1966 and 1967 with cars producing only 300 hp. Another reason was Alpine's success in Formula 2 and Formula 3.
Richard Bouleau was tasked with designing the car. He had designed his first car for a friend in 1962, and since 1963, he had been designing vehicles for Alpine. In 1965, Bouleau developed a concept for a flat suspension. Two years later, there were discussions about testing this solution, and the A350 model being built in Dieppe was chosen as the test platform. The car was constructed according to Formula One regulations. Initially, the A350 was considered an experimental project and was built in strict secrecy, but driver Mauro Bianchi convinced Jean Rédélé to attempt entering Formula One with the Alpine A350.
Bianchi joined Alpine in 1964. At Alpine, he was not only a racing driver but also a tester and technician. His first task was to evaluate the capabilities of the prototype A110 with a 1.1-liter engine, which he described as a "monster" due to its peculiar handling. Bianchi also raced for Alpine in Formula 2, Formula 3, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the company fielded models such as the M64 and M65 for him. From 1967 to 1968, he worked on the secret projects of the A220 and A350 models.
After an accident in the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans race, Bianchi stopped racing and focused on testing and developing cars. He returned to racing in March 1969, but after the death of his brother Lucien in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, he retired from racing and served as a test driver for Alpine until 1976.
The engine was called Renault-Gordini despite Renault forbidding Rédélé from placing Renault logos on Alpine cars in 1965. However, Renault was heavily involved in the engine's construction.
The engine had a displacement of 2,996 cc. The hemispherical cylinder heads were made of aluminum. The engine featured four twin-barrel carburetors. The ignition system, which also used ignition coils, came from Marelli.