What car will Franco Colapinto use at the Buenos Aires exhibition?

The Argentine will accelerate a 2012 Lotus on the circuit that will be located at the Spanish Monument in the Argentine capital on April 26.

Argentine fans were filled with joy with the confirmation that Franco Colapinto will make an exhibition in the streets of Buenos Aires on April 26 with an F1 car which belongs to Alpine. But, what car will the Alpine driver accelerate with in the capital of Argentina?

First and foremost it serves as a clarification that, even if they had wanted to, The Alpine A526 that Colapinto and Pierre Gasly race in the current F1 season could not be used. The regulations prohibit using the chassis of the current tournament for any type of test or exhibition. The same happens with the machine used in the previous championship (2025 in this case). Of course, the rule applies equally to all teams and, in fact, when teams organize a test for rookies they must carry it out with cars that are at least two years old. So, those of 2024, 2023 and 2022, so to speak, are reserved for those purposes. Once the clarification of the regulations has been made, The car that will arrive in Argentina is a Lotus E20 from the 2012 season.

Why a Lotus if it’s Alpine? The current Alpine family tree has its first branch in 1981 with the birth of Toleman, based in Witney, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. In 1985, Benetton, one of the sponsors of the team founded by Ted Toleman and Alex Hawkridge, decided to buy the team and named it after the clothing and accessories brand. Luciano Benetton, the new owner of the team, was a friend of Flavio Briatore, a former ski instructor and gastronomic entrepreneur. Luciano appointed Flavio director of Benetton Formula.

In 1992, the squad left the Witney headquarters and moved to the brand new Enstone plant. In 2001, the team was bought by Renault and had full control until 2009, in the midst of a global economic crisis, Rombo sold 75% of the shares to the Luxembourgish group Genii Capital, although it continued with the Renault name. In 2011, Genii Capital acquired the remaining 25% and the French automotive giant was no longer part of the team; He dedicated himself solely to being an engine supplier. For 2012, the Luxembourg company closed ranks with Lotus as a sponsor and the team was renamed Lotus. In 2015 the tables turned, Genii entered into financial problems and Renault, which wanted to rival Mercedes-Benz, bought back 75% of the team (shortly later it would take over 100%). Thus, in 2016 Renault returned as a team to F1 and was renamed Alpine (Rombo sports car brand) in 2021.

In every change of hands in the last 45 years, sales included everything: plant, F1 license, employees, memorabilia, relics, cars, trophies and museum. For this reason, today at the Enstone plant there are cars from Benetton, Renault, Lotus… And also, the trophies because everything went into the package every time there was a sale.

Alpine usually uses a Lotus E20 for its exhibitions, precisely the one that will be on April 26 in the streets of Buenos Aires. That car, for example, participated in the 2018 Goodwood Festival with Jack Aitken at the wheel. The British also performed a show in 2018 on the streets of Miami, during the F1 Fan Festival on Biscayne Boulevard. In 2019, Daniel Ricciardo wore it at Goodwood and in 2024, Jack Doohan and Sophia Flörsch They hosted it at the same classic festival.

The 2012 Lotus E20 was the first model built at Enstone by Genii Capital under the Lotus name. It was presented by the team on February 5, 2012 and was designed by James Allison (technical director), Martin Tolliday (designer) and Dirk de Beer (aerodynamicist). The Lotus E20 was the model with which Kimi Räikkönen returned to F1 after two years away from the category. He had Romain Grosjean as a partner. The car achieved a victory in the 2012 World Championship at the Abu Dhabi GP, led by Kimi, who finished third in the championship won by Sebastian Vettel. Lotus was fourth in Constructors (the crown went to Red Bull).

For all those who go to the exhibition, you will not be able to see the new hybrid engine in action, but the prize is greater: you will hear the roar of the impeller Renault 2.4 liter V8with a seven-speed titanium semi-automatic gearbox. Of course, the car will be painted in the colors of the current Alpine.