Renaultsport Megane 250 Lux | Spotted
When's a Megane track car not a track car? When it was 750MC's safety car...
If there’s one thing guaranteed about Renaultsport Meganes of the past 15 years or so, it’s that they make for brilliant track cars. Even in standard spec, various 250s, 265s and 275s - even later 280s and 300s - were entertaining and super-engaging on circuit. They weren’t always for the faint of heart, but that only made the Meganes more satisfying when you got it right.
Plus, of course, they only improved further with the right modifications. There’s not a car forum in the land that isn’t fit to burst with Renaultsport Meganes with a bit more boost, stickier tyres, better suspension and bigger brakes. They respond to the work so well, meaningful gains are relatively easily achieved, and such a great community has been built around them that it’s almost rude not to tweak just a little bit.
All of which made a Renaultsport Megane the ideal vehicle to be the official safety car for the 750 Motor Club. It’s the UK’s home of affordable motorsport, after all, and there must have been many folk who’ve progressed into racing having been bitten by the track day bug in a Megane. Now this 2010 250 Lux - which has been the 750 MC’s safety car since 2018, if you can believe it - is for sale, and could begin its circuit career all over again.
Because while it’s been around probably every track in Britain, and led a lot of races along the way, the Meg has only ever done it at safety car pace - some way from track day speed. Most of its 130,000 accrued miles (it was bought at a little less than 60,000) are said to have been on the motorway going to and from the 750 MC’s different events.
As a result, it’s not perfect, but then that only makes it more appealing as a track project going forward - especially at £5,250. Invoices for lots of servicing, new dampers, brakes and bushes seem a lot more important at this point in its life than a missing engine cover, a bit of kerbing and some marks on the roof from magnetic lights. This is never going to be a concours example, so a new keeper could use the Megane as intended without too much concern for its condition.
Plus there are plenty of cool track images to accompany the Renault, leading all sorts of grids up and down the country. It undoubtedly has an interesting history that no other Megane like this can boast. And that price really can’t be ignored: the next most affordable 250 on PH is £8,000, and that buys a lot of track preparation. Most of this era are still five figures, and even the earlier 225s and 230s are now more money. This 250 will likely need a little fettling to get it back to its best, though opportunities to get proper hot hatch heroes for not much money are seldom. It’s hard to imagine there ever being a cheaper one…
SPECIFICATION | RENAULTSPORT MEGANE 250 LUX
Engine: 1,998cc, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 250@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 251@3,000rpm
MPG: 34
CO2: 190g/km
First registered: 2010
Recorded mileage: 131,000
Price new: £22,995
Yours for: £5,250
Track photos credit: Jon Elsey
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