The latest addition to the revived Alpine A110's motorsport collection is this, the A110 Rally, following on from the A110 Cup and also the A110 GT4.
Aluminium tub
The A110 Rally is designed and developed by Signatech, and features the same aluminium chassis as the GT4 and Cup, derived from the road-going model. Modifications to make the Rally meet international specs include three-way hydraulic suspension, bigger Brembo brakes and items such as an FIA-homologated rollcage, Sabelt bucket seat and six-point harnesses.
Mechanically, a sequential six-speed gearbox and limited-slip diff have been added in, while power from the 1.8-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (as seen in the production model) has risen to more than 300hp. This will be a customer car that Alpine says will suit competition drivers of all abilities, and both Signatech and the French car company are working to gain the car an FIA R-GT homologation which would allow first customer deliveries in early 2020. The price? Around €150,000, excluding local taxes and pending homologation.
'Highly anticipated return'
Régis Fricotté, Alpine's commercial and competition director, said: "This return to rallying is highly anticipated as Alpine made history when it won the first-ever World Rally Championship in 1973. To ensure the success of this new adventure, we have entrusted the research and development, production and commercialisation of the Alpine A110 Rally to Signatech, our partner as well in the FIA World Endurance Championship and around the Cup and GT4 programmes. The Alpine A110 Rally looks set to be a very fine car to drive and amazingly efficient."
And Phillippe Sinault, Signatech's director, added: "It is a great honour for Signatech to have been chosen for such an exciting project that will see Alpine return to the special stages. All of our savoir-faire was called upon to meet the Alpine specifications and the first tests were extremely positive. The Alpine A110 Rally demonstrates genuine rally qualities while being a pleasurable car with uncompromising performances. We still have a lot of work to do before building the first cars, but this first public appearance marks a new stage in this exciting challenge!"