2020 Renault Sport Megane Trophy-R

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

● The Renault Sport Trophy-R was the first front wheel drive car to break the 8-minute barrier at the Nürburgring

● One of only 32 supplied to the UK

● Two years remaining of the manufacturer’s five-year warranty

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

With a mouthwatering specification and a price tag that, at the time, set new records for a hot hatch (from £51,140), the Megane Renault Sport Trophy-R was Renault truly pushing the boat out on the genre. The aim was simple: to beat the Nürburgring North Loop lap record for a front wheel drive car. To that end, the ingenious chaps at Dieppe put the Renault Sport Megane on a diet. Measures deployed included ditching the rear seats, rear wiper and rear wheel steering and installing thinner rear glass and a titanium Akrapovic exhaust, the combined effect saving 130kg.

With adjustable Ohlins dampers and Brembo brakes also contributing to the performance, the result was a lap time of just 7’40”10 which stood until very recently as the FWD record (beaten only by the 2023 Civic Type-R). While this car isn’t quite the full spec that delivered the record lap time (carbon wheels and ceramic brakes added another £20k or so to the price when new and only two were sold in the UK) and despite its practical family car roots, it’s a very serious bit of kit.

It has clearly been looked after as it’s in great cosmetic condition and comes with the bonus of a newly installed clutch. With so few making it to our shores, it’s a very rare sight on the roads but if you see one in the wild, you can rest assured that the driver is having a ball.

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

● The full set of original manuals is present

● There is space in the back of the manual for the service record which shows the first service completed at a main dealer

● The second service was carried out using genuine Renault parts (invoice supplied) at an independent garage

● An invoice for a new clutch is present

● Car will be serviced by a main dealer prior to auction completion

● Clean MOT valid to 24 July 2024

● Two key cards supplied with the car

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿

● Whatever resemblance it has to lesser models in the range on the outside, in the cabin it’s more race car than shopping hack, albeit a very nicely trimmed one

● The red-stitched Sabelt-supplied Alcantara bucket seats are grippy and supremely comfortable and are embroidered with the RS logo

● Red stitching also continues on the RS-branded steering wheel and throughout the cabin and helps to give the interior a premium and sporting feel

● On the dashboard, the infotainment screen also displays the feed from the reversing camera

● In place of the rear bench is a shelf designed to take a set of wheels to the track, held in place via a Sabelt net and which can be lashed to the red strut brace

● Other than a little wear to the steering wheel and the logo on the (again, RS-branded) driver’s floor mat, there’s little sign of the car’s use to date

● There’s plenty of room for your kit in the back, and some lashing eyes which should prove useful given that the boot floor is plastic

● In all, it’s very inviting and nicely looked after

𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿

● The Trophy-R came in any colour you liked, as long as it was white

● The paintwork is very well preserved and we couldn’t sign any signs of wear to the livery either

● A carbon fibre bonnet and rear diffuser look the business and contribute to the car’s weight-saving regime

● The wheels have just been fully refurbished and wear a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres

● A small Akrapovic badge on the diffuser belies the origin of the entertaining soundtrack

● A glance underneath highlights the largely flat floor in the name of aerodynamics and what is visible looks clean and tidy

● In summary, it’s still looking very fresh and racetrack-ready

𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹

● Under the carbon fibre bonnet, the turbocharged 1.8 litre 4-pot is rated at 300hp and subjectively it feels good for all of them

● Six-pot Brembos at the front provide some serious stopping power

● The adjustable dampers appear to be set up with a road bias in mind at present; on a brief test ride it was surprisingly compliant but with impressive support through the corners

● The Akrapovic exhaust makes for an amusing companion, particularly in race mode, with plenty of crackle on the overrun

● Whether on road or track, it promises to be enormous fun to drive

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆

Super rare, and with a spec list that reads like a who’s who of performance hardware, this is a hot hatch for the connoisseur. It’s in lovely condition but we hope that won’t put off its buyer from using it as its maker intended.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Wakefield, Yorkshire.