Renault 5 Alpine
Jean FIDDELAERS / Didier BIENSTMAN (B/B)

Category	SLOWLY
Year	1978
Group	2

 

Yesterday : Jean RAGNOTTI / Jean-Marc ANDRIE - Rallye Monte Carlo 1978

The R5 Alpine was designed in the Alpine factory by Yves Legal. In 1977, the Renault group prepared a group 2 version for rallies. She began her career at the 1977 "Rallye des 1000 Pistes" with the livery of the transporter Calberson which would soon become famous. On its steering wheel, Jean Ragnotti finished seventh.
The Rallye Monte-Carlo 1978 was particularly snowy. The two Renault 5 Alpine cars of Jean Ragnotti and Guy Fréquelin were not handicapped by their low power (at least 100 hp less then the competitors) and benefited from their front-wheel drive. Their agility and the dexterity of their drivers brought them to the second and third steps of the podium, behind Jean-Pierre Nicolas' Porsche 911 and in front of 4 Fiat 131s and a Lancia Stratos! A result that would make the Régie's “skateboard” a legend.
This Renault R5 was transformed into group 2 from a production car in 2002. Then, in 2013, Jean Fiddelars bought it. Since then, he has piloted it at Club Alpine sporting events and on "classic" events such as the Ice Trophy in Austria or the Eifel Rally Festival. 2020 will be his second participation in the Alsace Rallye Festival.