Staff and engineering assets would transfer together
The agreement covers Alpine Racing SAS and the staff, engineering expertise, physical assets and intangible assets needed to keep the Viry-Châtillon site operating. Renault and Dumarey have not disclosed the financial terms.
Employee representatives were presented with the proposal at an extraordinary works council meeting on October 22, 2026. Consultation has begun, but the signed agreement does not yet represent a completed acquisition.
"All employees of the entity would be transferred to the acquirer," Dumarey Group said in its announcement. The companies described the transaction as a way to sustain the operation and protect jobs, while opening opportunities to put its Formula 1 engine expertise to work for racing teams, potentially including future F1 engine customers.
Guido Dumarey, the buyer's founder and chairman, said the site's engineering capabilities could complement his group's industrial operations. "Our ambition is to preserve and further develop this exceptional engineering expertise while creating new opportunities for growth," he said.
Alex Plasse, vice president of Alpine Tech, said the proposed sale offered prospects for employees and the engineering business, while recognizing the site's long history in motorsport, particularly Formula 1.
Which Alpine operations are included?
Alpine Racing SAS, the entity at Viry-Châtillon in Île-de-France, is the subject of the acquisition. It is distinct from Alpine Racing Limited, which operates the Formula 1 team from Enstone in the United Kingdom. That company remains owned by Renault, and the team continues to race with Mercedes engines.
The agreement also excludes Alpine's World Endurance Championship team, owned equally by Renault and Signatech. The customer racing department responsible for the Clio Rally and Alpine A110 Cup, GT4 and Rally models is outside the transaction as well.
Viry-Châtillon has handled maintenance and assembly of the Mecachrome-built engines used in Alpine's A424 hypercar. Alpine is leaving the World Endurance Championship after the 2026 season.
Dumarey's industrial background
Dumarey specializes in advanced propulsion systems, powertrain components and clean mobility solutions. Founded by Guido Dumarey in 1983, the group is headquartered in Nazareth-De Pinte, near Ghent, Belgium.
The business has about 2,500 employees across 11 locations and annual revenue of roughly €750 million. Its previous acquisitions include General Motors' Strasbourg transmission plant, purchased in 2012 and now called Dumarey Powerglide, and GM's propulsion engineering center in Turin, acquired in 2020.
The end of Renault's works engine program
The sale follows Renault's 2024 decision to end its role as an F1 engine supplier after the 2025 season. Its final works engine raced at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2025. Alpine switched to Mercedes customer power units for 2026.
Viry-Châtillon produced the engines behind Renault's Formula 1 history, beginning with its entry into the championship in 1977. At Dijon in 1979, Renault recorded the first Grand Prix victory by a turbocharged car.
Renault-powered cars earned 12 constructors' championships and 11 drivers' titles, spanning Williams' success in 1992 through Red Bull's fourth consecutive title with Sebastian Vettel in 2013. Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Vettel all won world championships driving cars with Renault engines.
F1's engine suppliers and proposed rule changes
The 2026 grid uses engines from five manufacturers: Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, Red Bull with Ford, and Audi. General Motors is due to introduce its own power unit in 2029.
Separately, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said on October 13, 2026, that Formula 1 should replace its current V6 hybrids with turbocharged V8 engines in 2030. The change still requires a formal vote. He said research, development and engine costs would be at least 50% lower.
