French pioneer Louis Renault built the very first 'Renault' in his parents' workshop in Billancourt - pictured here - in 1898.

Renault make their first foray into Formula One 79 years later in 1977, pioneering the turbo-charged engine that would come to dominate the 1980s - but initially the car was so unreliable it was christened "the yellow teapot" by rivals

But Renault soon wipe the smiles off the other teams' faces, as Jabouille records the first turbo F1 win at the French Grand Prix at Dijon in 1979

Alain Prost joins Renault in 1981 and comes close to winning the 1983 world title only to lose out to Nelson Piquet's Brabham in the final race. Prost quits Renault for McLaren at the end of the season.

With rival engines catching up with Renault's turbo power, the French team struggles to stay competitive over the next two seasons and at the end of 1985 Renault withdraws its race team

Renault continues to supply its turbo engines to Lotus, who have F1 great Ayrton Senna at the wheel, but Renault terminate that deal at the end of the 1986 season and say au revoir to F1

Though turbo engines are now banned, Renault return in 1989 to supply Williams and a spell of dominance sees them win the 1992 and 1993 driver titles and constructor crowns in 1992, 1993 and 1994

Renault power Benetton in 1995 and give Michael Schumacher a second world title and the team its only constructors' title

After winning two more drivers' and constructors' crowns with Williams, Renault bow out of supplying engines to works teams in 1997 having added six constructors and five drivers' titles in a glorious period

Renault return once more to F1, buying Benetton Formula Limited for $120m in 2000 with Flavio Briatore (pictured) returning as team principal, but continue to race as Benetton for now

A 100% Renault car, designed by Mike Gascoyne, is unveiled in 2002 and achieves its best result at Monza where Jarno Trulli finishes fourth with team-mate Jenson Button sixth

Briatore signs up Spanish driver Fernando Alonso for the 2003 season saying, "he will be Renault's future"

Alonso scores a hat-trick of wins to lead the 2005 drivers' championship. His victory in Bahrain was also Renault's 100th GP win

Third place in Brazil is enough for Alonso to become champion and, at that time, the youngest in history aged 24 years and 58 days

After battling with the speedy McLarens all season, Renault seal a historic double at the final Grand Prix of the season in China, beating McLaren to the constructors' crown by nine points as Alonso wins

Renault dominate in early 2006 claiming seven victories in the opening nine Grands Prix including Renault's 200th race at Silverstone

But in July the FIA ban the use of mass dampers - the system designed by Renault to absorb vibrations and help road-holding - and without the device the team struggle for pace

Ferrari's seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, who would retire at the end of the season, took advantage and with just two races left to run he and title rival Alonso were level on points

But Schumacher's engine blows in the next race in Japan and Alonso takes the win to get one hand on a second world title

Second place in Brazil is enough for Alonso to be crowned champion while Renault defend their constructors' title by five points

With star driver Alonso now at McLaren and regulation Bridgestone tyres replacing Michelins, Renault struggle in 2007. Rookie Heikki Kovalainen's second at a wet Suzuka is the team's best result

Alonso returns to Renault in 2008 and restores the team to winning ways with back-to-back victories in Japan and Singapore