ELF: A Legacy Fueled by Victory

From the roar of Formula 1 engines to the endurance of Le Mans, ELF has carved an indelible mark in motorsport history. Born in 1967, ELF quickly became a symbol of performance and innovation, recognizable by its iconic red circles.

1968 marked ELF’s first major triumph, sponsoring the Matra-Ford MS10 to victory at Zandvoort in the F1 World Championship. Just a year later, ELF celebrated a double crown—F1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Champion—with Jackie Stewart and Matra-Ford.

In 1970, ELF joined forces with Renault, igniting a partnership that would redefine racing engines. Their collaboration led to the 1973 Monte Carlo Rally win with Alpine-Renault, securing the first Rally World Champion title.

ELF’s daring spirit shone in 1976, winning the Swedish Grand Prix with the revolutionary 6-wheeled Tyrrell P34. Two years later, the Renault-Alpine V6 dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans, proudly wearing ELF’s colors.

The turbo era began in 1979, with Jean-Pierre Jabouille clinching Renault’s first F1 Grand Prix win at Dijon. Then came Ayrton Senna’s first F1 victory in 1985 with Lotus-Renault and ELF in Portugal.

ELF powered the V10 engine era in 1989, partnering with Williams F1 Team. Their golden moment arrived in 1992, winning both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships with Nigel Mansell.

The 2000s saw ELF and Renault F1 Team dominate again, winning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 with Fernando Alonso. That same year, ELF helped launch the World Series by Renault, a springboard for future F1 stars.

ELF’s endurance legacy continued with Alpine’s return in 2013, securing LMP2 class victories at Le Mans in 2016, 2018, and 2019. In 2020, the Alpine ELF Europa Cup debuted with the Alpine A110 Cup.

Fast forward to 2024, Cool Racing with ELF became LMP2 Pro Champion in the European Le Mans Series, while Alpine Endurance Team entered the Hypercar class in the FIA World Endurance Championship. In 2025, VDS Panis Racing clinched two ELMS titles at Imola and Spa-Francorchamps, continuing ELF’s winning tradition.  In September 2025, Cool Racing won the 4 Hours of Silverstone at the LMP2 category.