Tuesday 20th August 2013

Renaultsport vs Honda - fight!

Honda shows intent to literally steal Renault's 'ring lap record

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Willy waggling Nordschleife records are an industry staple, the romanticised rivalries they spawn the gift that keeps giving for PR and forum fanboys alike.

Renault's response? The Suzuka record

We'd like to say we're above getting dragged down into such things here at PH. But we'd be lying, even 'ring record sceptic Dale getting sucked into the hype by setting one of his own.

Anyway. Away from GT-R/911 battles, the 'is it a road car or isn't it?' overall title holders and other sub categories there's one important one for hot hatch fans in the shape of the front-wheel drive record. Held, unsurprisingly, by Renaultsport with an 8min 8sec in the Megane 265 Trophy, having previously seen off the Ford Focus RS with the old shape 26.R.

But Honda's got its eyes on the prize, publicly stating early on that the 'ring record is a development goal for the forthcoming Civic Type R. It's even released a video here, the PR equivalent of a dog cocking its leg on the circuit though perhaps slightly more artistic than the infamous giant penis that closed the circuit a few months back.

Moving swiftly on, this rivalry has been in the air for a while now and Renault's response, articulated to us with typically French insouciance by Renaultsport boss Patrice Ratti a few weeks back, was to take 'ring record holder Laurent Hurgon to Japan with a Megane and nab the FWD lap record at Honda's 'home' track of Suzuka with a lap time of 2:34.292. This was back in May and reflects the fact Japan is actually Renaultsport's fourth biggest market worldwide. That it probably annoyed Honda quite a bit won't have hurt.

Worse things have been painted here

With Renault putting its faith in traditional tuning like mechanical limited-slip diffs and its neat PerfoHub offset steering axis front struts Honda is meanwhile rumoured to be adapting the Civic Tourer's unique (for the market sector) active rear suspension to give the new Type R a technical USP. And distract us from the fact it's going to be a turbo, not VTEC, that'll power this attempt at knocking the French off the pedestals both at home and in Germany.

How long before Renault has to defend its records in earnest? It's probably safe for a while and in this first round it's definitely one-nil to the French. We look forward to seeing how this inspires Honda's response.

[Sources: Renault Portugal]

 

 

[zebedee]

How do you 'literally' steal a laptime record? You either beat it or you don't, you can't take someone else's? No surprise that the OED had to give a new definition to the word 'literally' seeing as people can't use it properly anymore. Not sure what we are supposed to use instead now. Actually?

[McSpud]

If Honda can get within 20 seconds of the Mega Megane's time they'll be doing reasonably well.

[steveb8189]

zebedee said:

How do you 'literally' steal a laptime record? You either beat it or you don't, you can't take someone else's? No surprise that the OED had to give a new definition to the word 'literally' seeing as people can't use it properly anymore. Not sure what we are supposed to use instead now. Actually?

Steal : "to take (the property of another or others) without permission, especially secretly or by force"

Sounds pretty apt to me. It's refering to a record, not a time

[Dan911]

McSpud said:

If Honda can get within 20 seconds of the Mega Megane's time they'll be doing reasonably well.

You think the Megane is that good? (I am not saying its not, just wondered)

If Honda beat Renault.. Maybe time for a Megane R27.R?

[Captain Muppet]

Which bit of this was actually news?

[luke g28]

steveb8189 said:

Steal : "to take (the property of another or others) without permission, especially secretly or by force"

Sounds pretty apt to me. It's refering to a record, not a time

Implication that a record is property that can be owned,bought and sold.

Stealing things without actually taking anything.....where have we heard that before.

back on topic, a good bit of competition never hurts, hopefully we'll get a new Megane and a couple of stripped back Hondas as they fight for ring supremacy.

[McWigglebum4th]

Won't be as fast as a 30 year old XJS

[TREMAiNE]

Liked the ad. Doubt they'll beat Renault.Though, if they do it'd be awesome to see an R27.R

[Impasse]

McWigglebum4th said:

Won't be as fast as a 30 year old XJS

Or as rusty.

[framerateuk]

I can just see Renault releasing a last hurrah for the MKIII Megane around the same time and things at Honda going very quiet....

How much power will they need to get it under 8 minutes? The 250 did around 8:16, the 265 did 8:08 (though admittedly with different tyres). If they lost a bit of weight and added some more grunt they won't be far off...

Either way, the Megane 250 has been a great car. It's been a pleasure owning one.

[NGK210]

Judging by the graffiti artist's 'knowing look' into the camera when he removes his mask, I assume we're supposed to recognise him?

[dc2rr07]

McSpud said:

If Honda can get within 20 seconds of the Mega Megane's time they'll be doing reasonably well.

They managed 8:43 in 98 with a Integra Type R so I would like to think in 15 years things have moved on a bit, it does get all a bit childish or is it I am just getting older.

[motor mad]

The amount of time Honda are taking to come up with this Type-R, we could be on to the Megane R30.

[GH80]

I still think Audi's 30 foot cock was a better advertisment than this, come on Honda try a bit harder!

[TameRacingDriver]

McWigglebum4th said:

Won't be as fast as a 30 year old XJS

Nor as fun to drive. After all, these are only meant for popping to the shops in.

[PHMatt]

Blimmey, after what feels like 30 years of Honda insisting on those REAAAAAAAAALLY annoying revvy engines with no torque they have finally conceded that what Joey P(ublic) want is power they can use more often!

[Captain Muppet]

PHMatt said:

Blimmey, after what feels like 30 years of Honda insisting on those REAAAAAAAAALLY annoying revvy engines with no torque they have finally conceded that what Joey P(ublic) want is power they can use more often!

Do you really think the entire automotive industry is moving to small turbocharged engines due to customer demand? Or is it an engineering response to taxing by emissions?

[Hoygo]

That's vandalizing the Ring not really necessary.

Anyway for Honda: Too late Junior !!!

[snorky]

I didnt think Honda could make an uglier car - but they managed it with the current civic

[Darren61]

I'd put money on Renault releasing a ".R" version of the current Megane, although not by tradition, they may decide to up the power a little bit too.

Who knows, we may even see a sub 8 minute lap in a FWD hatch. Yes theres lots of willy waving with contests like these, but IMO it pushes the design and engineering to the limits and this filters through to the rest of the range. It can only be a good thing!