Acquisition excludes Alpine's F1 team
Announced on October 22, 2026, the agreement covers Alpine Racing SAS, the company responsible for all motorsport activities at Viry-Châtillon. Dumarey would take over its personnel and the physical and intangible assets needed to run the facility.
The sale does not include the assets of the BWT Alpine Formula One Team. Those belong to a separate company, Alpine Racing Limited, based in Enstone, United Kingdom.
Renault Group said employee representatives were presented with the proposal at an extraordinary Works Council meeting on the day of the announcement. Consultation is now underway, with its outcome to be presented at a subsequent meeting. That process and all applicable regulatory approvals remain conditions for completion.
With the acquisition proposal submitted to Alpine Racing, the parties are reviewing the operation and its finances to determine how quickly they can proceed.
A new owner for Renault's former engine base
Viry, in the southern suburbs of Paris, housed Renault's Formula 1 engine operation for decades. Renault shut down its in-house engine department at the end of 2025 as Alpine opted for a Mercedes customer supply deal, leaving the futures of hundreds of employees in doubt.
The facility also supports Alpine's World Endurance Championship effort by assembling and maintaining the Mecachrome-built engines used in its A424 LMDh cars. Alpine plans to leave the championship at the end of this year.
Dumarey, headquartered in Nazareth-De Pinte, Belgium, develops engines, energy storage systems and engineering solutions for the automotive industry. It says expanding into motorsport is part of its diversification plans and that the acquisition "creates opportunities to leverage Renault's Formula 1 engine expertise for racing teams in the future".
Renault Group credits Viry with more than four decades of F1 development experience, as well as expertise in hybrid and electric propulsion, simulation, software and testing.
Axel Plasse, VP Alpine Tech, said: "This transaction represents a strong and coherent opportunity to secure and further develop the expertise of the Viry-Châtillon site. It opens up new prospects for employees and for the engineering business. This development is a recognition of the site's longstanding motorsport expertise, particularly in Formula 1."
Signatech seeks a route beyond Alpine
The Viry agreement could affect efforts to keep the A424 in the WEC's Hypercar class. Alpine's factory partner Signatech wants to continue racing it under another brand in 2027, but a prospective arrangement with China's Geely appears to have fallen through.
A deal had seemed close after last month's Fuji 6 Hours. French outlet Endurance-Info subsequently reported that a decision not to pursue the proposed takeover was made on October 8, 2026. Neither Alpine nor Geely had formally confirmed the breakdown at the time of that report.
France Racing attributed the failed negotiations primarily to a disagreement over price. According to its report, Renault Group wanted significantly more than Geely was willing to pay; the sums were not disclosed, but the gap amounted to several million euros.
The proposal would have retained the A424's Oreca-based LMDh platform while changing its styling and branding, followed by a new homologation process. Signatech was expected to continue operating the program.
France Racing reported that the 2027 Hypercar field would comprise 19 cars, including newcomers Ford and McLaren. A Geely takeover of the two A424s, entered either under its own name or another brand such as Lotus, could have brought that figure to 21.
November deadline for a 2027 entry
Any effort to continue the A424 program faces a November 25 deadline for the 2027 WEC season. The formal entry documentation must be completed by that date to secure a Hypercar place.
Signatech team principal Philippe Sinault has said for weeks that the engineers, mechanics and other resources needed to race next year are in place. A new team would also need to sign drivers and confirm which existing participants will stay, with Antonio Felix da Costa among those departing.
The A424 has raced in Hypercar since 2024. Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg and Paul-Loup Chatin delivered its first overall victory at Fuji in 2025.
If no alternative manufacturer emerges, Alpine's final WEC appearance would be the season finale at Monza on November 8, 2026.
