Anyone who has followed my previous purchases will know it doesn’t take me long to start making changes. I’m about as good at leaving a car standard as a Labrador is at walking past a tennis ball without picking it up. All reversible to preserve the car’s value, of course, but for all the time it is mine, I do like to put my stamp on it.
Given this is my third Renaultsport Megane Mk3, my favourite modifications are tried and tested. A fresh set of OEM carpet mats is usually the first thing I buy, and that was no different here. Luckily for me, the previous owner had already fitted K-Tec braided brake hoses and PBS Pro Track pads all round (which would have been my go-to anyway), so all that was needed was some fresh brake fluid.
I booked TR07 PHR in with LAP911 in Highworth – as the name would suggest, a Porsche specialist, but Luke has a history with Renaults and is well known for taking good care of them when not playing with flat sixes. The tyres were on their last legs, so I opted for a fresh set of Michelin Pilot Sport 5s which are very suited to a mix of road driving and light track work, alongside a wheel refurb in gloss black.
With the basics covered, I wanted to release a bit more (childish) noise from the engine, so I fitted my proven combination of a Forge Motorsport recirculation valve and ITG induction kit. The latter has been tested against rivals and proven to provide the biggest power gains, which makes it a no-brainer. With the boot floor and parcel shelf removed to maximise the noise from the factory Akrapovic exhaust system, I was all set for my first track outing at Curborough sprint course.
The biggest problem with the three-stage pearlescent Liquid Yellow paintwork is that it’s supposedly one of the worst colours to try and match. So, unless I fork out on putting paint protection film on the whole car, I’ve found I don’t want to leave it in a public car park in fear of it getting damaged, and I definitely don’t want to take it on track with other cars. Anyone else getting more precious about their cars as they get older, or just me?
Curborough, then, is the perfect place for track action. Run in a sprint format, each car goes out one at a time on the tight and twisty track, completing a single lap before the next car heads out. It’s also lighter on the consumables too, with a bit of breathing space between each run.
The Megane, of course, was in its element. What I love about these cars is how predictable they feel as you throw the weight between the corners – you always feel in control. I find that newer hot hatches feel more disconnected and if they let go, it tends to happen in a big way. I could launch the Megane off the line, accelerate through the first corner and trail brake into the next with the PBS Pro Track pads biting hard from cold. Back on the power, the mechanical limited-slip differential would assist the Michelin PS5s into the apex like a rabid Greyhound chasing a rabbit. All the while making all the whooshing, fizzing and crackling noises I need to put a big grin on my face.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 5s needed a few pressure tweaks throughout the day as they heated up and to help play with the balance through the corners, but they otherwise gave me all the confidence I needed. And I can drive to and from the circuit on them too, without the faff of swapping over track wheels. TR07 PHR may not have been as fast and furious as GFWilliams’ purple Exige and it definitely didn’t sound as good as MDifficult’s V10 R8, but I still left the day a very happy bunny.
It has been the perfect weekend toy these last few months on sunny evening supper runs, effortlessly taking us to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and having my kids scream ‘faster, daddy’ at every opportunity. But while I’d convinced myself of this before, can a hot hatch really feel special enough to be my only toy? Have I been there and done that a few too many times without going back to my exes? Only time will tell…
FACT SHEET
Car: 2014 Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy
Run by: Ben Lowden
On fleet since: March 2025
Mileage: 23,473
Modifications: ITG induction kit, Forge Motorsport recirculation valve, K-Tec braided brake lines, Motul RBF660 brake fluid, PBS Pro Track brake pads
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