2008 RENAULT MEGANE

Background:

Hot hatches have gotten faster, Nürburgring lap records now trade hands constantly and the car that arguably kicked off this performance war was the 227bhp Renault Megane R26R in 2008.

A stripped-down, track-focused version of the R26, the R26R lapped the Nürburgring in eight mins 17 seconds — quicker than a Porsche Cayman S — and proudly wore that time on its side windows. Renault planned to build 450 units, with 230 for the UK but the financial crash slashed that to just 159.

To unlock performance, Renaultsport cut 120kg from the standard R26. Out went the rear seats, in came a half-cage, plastic side windows, carbon bonnet, Pole Position racing seats and Sabelt harnesses. The 2-litre turbo engine kept its 227bhp, with minor tweaks like an optional titanium exhaust. The gearbox and limited-slip diff were carried over, but suspension was retuned with softer springs and improved dampers. Sticky R888R tyres wrapped red alloys, hiding red Brembo brakes beneath.

The car:

The R26.R presented here is a superb example of the marque. With low mileage, its condition reflects what the odometer shows. The driving experience is unmatched by modern hot hatches in terms of speed, feel and driver engagement. Suspension and steering feel razor-sharp, with no knocks or rattles, offering full reassurance of how well the car has been maintained. The gearbox feels slick with no notches and the clutch operates perfectly as it should with no sponginess or lack of rebound.

Externally, the car is in excellent condition for its age and usage.

The interior is in excellent condition, with the all-important bucket seats showing minimal signs of wear. The cage, nets, fire extinguisher, belts and all other R26.R-specific features remain in outstanding shape.

Also included is the original Renault R26.R celebration box, featuring the full Nürburgring lap record on DVD, a single-lap Nürburgring card and the owner's edition book - a very rare and collectible set to find complete.

Not often has a car left such a lasting impact. If you’re looking for something unique and will blow anything away on a British B-road, this Megane R26.R is the right car for you.