Published on May 21st, 2019 📆 | 7328 Views ⚑
0The Renault Megane RS Trophy-R Just Monstered The FWD ‘Ring Record
Renault Sport has lopped nearly four seconds off the Honda Civic Type R's Nurburgring record with a 7min 40.1sec lap
If you want to announce an all-new model, doing so while also confirming a new Nurburgring lap record is quite a showy way to do it.
Thatâs exactly what Renault has just done with its new Megane RS Trophy R, which is now the Nurburgringâs fastest ever production car. Although given numerous Nordschleife spots over the last few months, this doesnât come as a huge surprise.
The ultra-focused version of the standard Megane RS300 Trophy took 7min and 40.1 seconds to lap the Green Hell, compared to 7min 43.8 for the previous record holder, the Honda Civic Type R. Renault has also posted the Trophy Râs time for the full 20.832km lap of the Nordschleife (the 07:40 was, like most publicised âRing times, recorded over 20.6km), which was 07:45.38. Laurent Hurgon, who has clocked FWD âRing records for Renault Sport in the past, was behind the wheel for the effort this time around too.
Itâs worth pointing out that track improvements since Hondaâs run with the Civic have made the Nordschleife a little faster. Also, unlike the Type R, the Trophy-R is a limited-run special. Then again, Honda sent the Type R out on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s, tyres which you canât have fitted to the car from the factory. Like many Nurburgring records, then, itâs one thatâll generate plenty of debate.
As for the Trophy-R itself, Renault hasnât revealed a huge amount about the new âRing machine as of yet. For now, the French manufacturer has revealed that itâs been on a crash diet and lost a whopping 130kg and that itâs had a few aero tweaks.
Engineers have treated the car to âa more radical development of its drive axles,â and although although we suspected Renault might have fitted some sticky semi-slicks, it turns out the Trophy-R uses the same Bridgestone Potenza S007s as the 300 Trophy.
Expect a proper debut for the car in a few weeks. Before that, the Trophy-R will be seen bimbling around Monaco âon the fringes of the Formula One Grand Prixâ with Renault F1 pilots Daniel Ricciardo and Nico HĂźlkenberg taking turns on driving duties.
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