Artcurial’s Renault Icons auction saw an unprecedented 100 vehicles – including Formula 1 and Le Mans racers – from the marque’s heritage collection cross the block, achieving an impressive €12m on 7 December 2025. The proceeds will help fund a new exhibition space at Renault’s former Flins production plant, scheduled to open in 2027.
The biggest result of the sale was achieved by the Williams FW19 that Jacques Villeneuve piloted to the Formula 1 World Championship title in 1997. Preserved in Renault’s collection since 1998, the iconic Rothmans-liveried machine sold for €1,312,400, surpassing its high estimate of €1.2m.
In second place was the Renualt-Alpine A442 that was raced by Arnoux, Pironi and Fréquelin at Le Mans in 1977. The A442 comfortably eclipsed its €500,000 high estimate, crossing the block for an impressive €1,278,080.
Other noteworthy results included Alain Prost and Elio d’Angelis’s F1 challengers. Prost’s 1983 Renault RE40-03 achieved €1,198,000, while d’Angelis’s Lotus 95T brought in €866,880. Meanwhile, a Renualt EF Type E engine used by Ayrton Senna during qualifying in Adelaide, 1986 sold for €225,080 against an €80,000-€120,000 estimate.
Collectible display pieces also proved popular with buyers. A 2003 Renault R23-00 Show Car sold for €99,932, while a 1995 Benetton-Renault B195 Show Car – an exacting replica of Michael Schumacher’s Championship-winner – realised €126,420.
Other auction highlights included a 1989 Renault 21 Supertourisme (€44,548), a 2009 Renault Mégane III Trophy maquette (€42,140), a 1990 Renault 5 GT Turbo Group N rally car (€69,832) and a 1994 Renault Laguna BTCC machine (€48,160).
Click here for the full auction results.
