1900 Renault Type C will join 500 other pre-1905 vehicles on the runEntered by Renault UK and driven by Renault Owners Club Editor, Alasdair WorsleyThe run begins at first light (7:03am) from Hyde Park on Sunday 6th November

Renault UK proudly sponsors the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2016 as an official manufacturer partner – a partnership that has run for more than thirty years.

Renault will be entering its 1900 Type C into the long-standing heritage trial on 6th November. Alasdair Worsley, Editor of the Renault Owners Club, and expert of both the run and the Type C, will drive the working piece of Renault history down to Madeira Drive in Brighton.

Jeremy Townsend, Communications Director, Groupe Renault UK, said: “Renault has been involved with the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run since the 1970s, and it’s fantastic to be an official manufacturer partner once more, showcasing the brand’s long and varied history. Our Type C is the epitome of the great resilience shown by Renault; being one of the few motor manufacturers set up in the 19th century that are still going strong now, and we wish Alasdair well in his adventure through the city and down to the coast on 6th November.”

With as many as half a million spectators expected to line the route, the first cars will take off from Hyde Park at first light (approximately 7:03am). The Renault Type C will travel through central London to pass Buckingham Palace and towards the Imperial War Museum, before heading south towards Croydon, Purley, Redhill, Crawley and onwards to the finish line on Madeira Drive, Brighton.

The Renault Type C was first shown in April 1900 at the Vincennes Car Show as part of the World Exhibition taking place in Paris. The vehicle was extremely advanced for its time, adopting an innovative cooling system using water meaning the bonnet was, unusually for the period, square. Its chassis was designed in the same way as its predecessors, the Renault Type A and Type B, but longer and larger and available in three forms – a convertible with removable back seats, a ‘barrel’ four-seater and a coupe with two and three seats.

The Renault Type C was victorious in many reliability and time trials in the early 20th Century, such as the Paris-Bordeaux and the Paris-Toulouse, shortly after being unveiled in Vincennes. Available for 4,500 ancien Francs in 1900 (approx. £13,000 in 2016), these victories led to commercial success for the young Renault Frères and were directly linked to 350 customer orders for the Renault Type C.

This particular example of the Type C is owned by Renault UK as part of their heritage fleet that spans more than a hundred years, from the Type C of 1900 up to cars from the present day.

Commenting on taking part once more, Alasdair said: “To be able to take drive the Type C down to Brighton again this year will be an honour. The car was so innovative for its time thanks to its drive system – Louis Renault’s design for the Type C was breathtakingly modern for the time. Obviously, compared to modern day cars, the Type C’s pace is very leisurely, however, it’s a real thrill to have the chance to drive it! I’m looking forward to the Type C getting us to Madeira Drive with no glitches on 6th November.”

As part of London Motor Week, Renault will be exhibiting a range of electric vehicles from its current line-up, including the all-electric ZOE and Twizy, at the Regent Street Motor Show on Saturday 5th November. The ZOE, Twizy and Kangoo Van Z.E. will all also be available for the public to test drive on the day.

This year’s Run marks the 120th anniversary of the first ‘Emancipation Run’ from London to Brighton, which was held in November 1896. It marked the passing into law of the Locomotives on the Highway Act which raised the speed limit for ‘light locomotives’ from 4mph to 14mph and abolished the need for the vehicles to be preceded by a man carrying a red flag.

For more information about Renault and the Bonham’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run visit www.renault.co.uk and www.veterancarrun.com.