The first race the team, under the name Equipe Renault Elf, entered was the 1977 French Grand Prix, the ninth round of the season, but the car was not yet ready.
A primeira carreira do equipo, baixo o nome de Equipe Renault Elf, ía ser o Gran Premio de Francia de 1977, a novena proba da tempada, pero o coche aínda non estaba listo.