Which manufacturer won the first WRC manufacturers' title in 1973?

Alpine-Renault won the first WRC manufacturers’ title in 1973.

The 1973 season was the inaugural World Rally Championship conducted under the FIA’s new WRC format. Alpine-Renault dominated with its lightweight, rear-engined Alpine A110 1800, winning six rallies and scoring 147 points in the manufacturers’ standings.

Fiat finished second with 84 points, while Ford took third with 76. Alpine-Renault’s success was built on strong performances across varied surfaces, including victories at Monte Carlo, Portugal, the Acropolis, Sanremo and the Tour de Corse. The team’s drivers included Jean-Claude Andruet, Jean-Luc Thérier and Jean-Pierre Nicolas.

This title is sometimes confused with Alpine-Renault’s 1971 success in the earlier International Championship for Manufacturers. That was a predecessor series, not the first official WRC manufacturers’ championship. The WRC’s inaugural manufacturers’ crown belongs to Alpine-Renault in 1973; Lancia won the title in each of the next three seasons.