Louis Renault was a pioneer in automobile design in the infant French motor industry, building his first car as early as 1898, mounting a De Dion Bouton engine on the front of a primitive tubular chassis frame.

Ever the innovator, he broke from traditional design by featuring a sprung live rear axle, a feature soon to be copied by his contemporaries.

With the benefit of substantial financial backing, production began at Billancourt of 1¾hp and 3hp cars, with the hugely successful Type C 3½hp cars of 1900 followed by the 4½hp models which appeared soon after.

From the outset Renault saw the benefits to be gained from involvement in motor sport and, along with his brother Marcel, he took an active part in this new sporting activity.

Although the headlines were stolen by larger cars, Renault, with their voiturettes, were highly regarded, achieving class successes in continental events and in the great French City-to-City races.

In the 1901 Paris-Bordeaux Race, Louis Renault led a vic...