For most any Audi aficionado, Michèle Mouton needs no introduction-her exploits behind the wheel of the quattro cemented her as a rallying icon. But before Audi, before her world championship near-miss in 1982, before Pike’s Peak or the formidable nickname “Black Volcano,” there was Alpine-and it all started with an Alpine A110.Mouton was born in Grasse on the French Riviera, where as a teenager she drove her father’s Citroën 2CV around their property. Her rallying journey began in 1972, not with a race car but as a co-driver for a friend in the Monte Carlo Rally. Michèle’s father, recognizing her potential, set a condition: “If you want to carry on, you drive.” Soon after, the family’s savings went into a brand-new Alpine A110 1600 Group 3—her ticket to something greater, making her own destiny from the driver’s seat..That Alpine wasn’t just a starter car. In 1973, Mouton raced it at local events and finished eighth in a Corsica rally, then went on to secure 12th overall at the Tour de Corse — in a field dominated by men. Rumours swirled that she had an “illegal engine,” but the car’ passed inspection, making her pace undeniable, including to rivals whose egos may have been bruised by losing to this driver who was seen as “just a girl”.
Michèle’s pace translated into titles: in 1974 she claimed both French and European Ladies’ rally championships in the Alpine, proving she had arrived both behind the wheel and in reputation.
Alpine’s role in Mouton’s story is more than incidental — it reflects the brand’s rally soul. The A110, born from Jean Rédélé’s post-war tinkering and Renault’s awards system, was an icon. of lightweight design and competitive spirit. In Mouton’s hands, it became the launchpad for a legend in the making—a tribute to a carmaker whose DNA is deeply entwined with motorsport and whose influence helped shape the future Audi driving icon’s birth.
Looking at Mouton’s early chapter through Alpine reveals a thread running from Dieppe’s handcrafted berlinette to the thunderous quattro. Her story is a reminder that even icons start small-often perched behind the wheel of something improbable, driven by belief, and powered by legacy.
ALPINE TO HONOR ITS HERITAGE OF WOMEN IN RACING AT GOODWOOD REVIVAL
Later this month, Alpine will honor its own heritage of women in racing at the Goodwood Revival (12–14 September) with a special Earl’s Court display marking 70 years of motorsport DNA and celebrating the pioneering women who helped shape its legacy. Alongside Michèle Mouton’s story, the exhibit will spotlight the exploits of Marianne Hoepfner, Marie-Claude Beaumont, and Lella Lombardi, while also connecting past to present with appearances by Alpine Academy racers Nina Gademan and Sukhmani Khera, plus Alpine UK brand director and amateur driver Nicola Burnside. Three cars will anchor the display: the 1973 Works A110 Berlinette, the 1975 A441 C prototype, and the all-new A390 fastback—together charting Alpine’s path from rally glory and endurance competition to an electrified future.
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