Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R sets new Nurburgring lap record

In the tradition of Renault Sport, the Megane R.S. Trophy-R was developed as a more potent version of the regular Megane R.S. by a small dedicated team that operated in agile mode by focusing on three aspects: maximum weight reduction (up to 130 kg lighter compared to the Megane R.S. excluding options), reworked aerodynamics and a more radical development of its drive axles.

The effort paid dividends on 5 April, 2019, when the Megane R.S. Trophy-R set a new world record for the front-wheel drive compact car segment of production cars on the Nürburgring, covering the 20.6 km circuit in 7 minutes 40.1 seconds. The lap time is over 3 seconds quicker than that held by the previous record holder, the Honda Civic Type R with a lap time of 7 minutes and 43.8 seconds.

The story of the Megane R.S. and the “Ring” has been going on for more than 10 years. It started in 2008 with the very first record in the front-wheel-drive production car category: Megane R.S. R26.R completed the lap in 8’17’’. A time that was shattered 3 years later, in 2011, by the second generation Megane R.S. Trophy version, in the hands of the car’s driver-builder, Laurent Hurgon (8’07”97). In 2014, it passed under the 8-minute mark (7’54”36) for the first time with the Trophy-R version of the Megane III R.S.

Renault’s record streak ended when the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport snatched the title in 2016, followed by the third and fourth generation Civic Type R‘s.

The Megane R.S. Trophy-R will be marketed before the end of 2019 as an exclusive limited edition of a few hundred units.