Megane Trophy breaks FWD 'Ring record

[Wretched]

The new RenaultSport Megane Trophy 265 has broken the record for a front-wheel drive car at the Nurburgring Nordschleife

Renault has taken the lap record for a front-wheel drive car at the Nurburgring Nordschleife with the new RenaultSport Megane 265 Trophy – which has just posted a time of 8 minutes 7.97 seconds.


That’s nine seconds quicker than the time set by the previous record holder – the last-generation RenaultSport Megane R26.R – back in 2008. But while the R26.R was a stripped-out special with perspex windows and no rear seats, the new 265 Trophy is just a slightly modified version of the standard Megane 250, with an extra 15bhp and wearing Bridgestone Potenza RE05 tyres.

Renault test driver Laurent Hurgon set the time during only the car’s second lap of the Nordschleife – and our very own John Barker was there to see it happen.

‘When he went out Laurent was driving on some nicely worn tyres,’ said John, ‘he went out first thing and conditions were ideal for a turbocharged engine, about 11 degrees and the track cold enough to help road tyres. He said it was still damp under the trees so he went back out for another go and set the time on his second lap.’

John will be driving the car around the track later today – we’ll bring you the full story later!

http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/26...ng_record.html

Here are some cars around that time.

8:09 Audi RS4
8:09 BMW M6 E63
8:10 Porsche Boxster S
8:10 Chrysler Viper GTS
8:10 BMW Alpina B6 S
8:11 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
8:12 BMW Z4 M Coupe
8:13 BMW M5 E60
8:13 Ferrari 355 GTB
8:13 Mercedes-Benz_C63 AMG
8:14 BMW Alpina B3 Biturbo Coupé
8:26 Ford Focus RS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BC...ction_vehicles

[DJM83]

Definitely an awesome car the 250 and in this case the 265, well done Renault.
What is the time of the 'off the shelf' RS250?

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Definitely an awesome car the 250 and in this case the 265, well done Renault.
What is the time of the 'off the shelf' RS250?

I can't find any details on that one.
The only other one I have is the Renault Mégane RS R26.R doing 8:16.9.

Originally Posted by Fordman

This car is a beast, recently there was a wheels magazine comparo on it, and to my suprise it took the Focus RS to the cleaners along with the WRX and many other hot hatches, and yet id still prefer an RS lol.

Heart says Focus head says Megane.

Originally Posted by MethodX

Impressive, but still a hatch, simply cannot get into them.
Why cant the Euros do hot small sedans? oh well.

M3? C63? S4? 335 Sedan?

[MexicanBatman]

Fools, I think you are missing my point

I am interested very much in lap times

But I am about as interested in lap times at the ring as I am in your fuel economy etc...

I'm much more interested in comparisons in lap times around local tracks.

[GULL]

But we are kinda not talking about local tracks or local cars at this point!
Fools is a bit harsh concidering at the time of typing this your the only 1 driving on the wrong track !

Originally Posted by MexicanBatman

Fools, I think you are missing my point

I am interested very much in lap times

But I am about as interested in lap times at the ring as I am in your fuel economy etc...

I'm much more interested in comparisons in lap times around local tracks.

[SteveJH]

While the 'ring is not a local track, due to the sheer size of the track it exposes the car to most conditions you'd expect it to be exposed to at any circuit.

Long straights, tight corners etc. Plus the length gives the differences more of a chance to be shown.

I doubt the result would be much different on any local track with the possible exception of bathurst where the long straights might give a car with more power an advantage.

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by Wretched

I can't find any details on that one.
The only other one I have is the Renault Mégane RS R26.R doing 8:16.9.


Heart says Focus head says Megane.


M3? C63? S4? 335 Sedan?

Small affordable -ish ones.

[MexicanBatman]

Ring times mean as much to me as dyno numbers

I like to see lap times of production vehicles at race tracks where you can have consistent lap after lap to see the full potential of the car, the ring is too long, let's say car r is x fast and faster than car p, yet in reality car p is faster everywhere else as car r cooked the books for a press making ring time or didn't get traffic etc...

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by MexicanBatman

Ring times mean as much to me as dyno numbers

I like to see lap times of production vehicles at race tracks where you can have consistent lap after lap to see the full potential of the car, the ring is too long, let's say car r is x fast and faster than car p, yet in reality car p is faster everywhere else as car r cooked the books for a press making ring time or didn't get traffic etc...

Just as much as 1/4 mile times mean SFA to me, but at least i can appreciate it.

[kpcart]

Originally Posted by MexicanBatman

Ring times mean as much to me as dyno numbers

I like to see lap times of production vehicles at race tracks where you can have consistent lap after lap to see the full potential of the car, the ring is too long, let's say car r is x fast and faster than car p, yet in reality car p is faster everywhere else as car r cooked the books for a press making ring time or didn't get traffic etc...

ring times mean more then your g6 1/4 mile time posted under your reply. no one cares about that, but lots of people care about this, as the nurburgring is a legendary race track, a true test of skill and a cars ability. 99.9% of owners dont take their car racing, but they like to know in the back of their mind that it is fast, and this sort of result is proof enough for them that it is fast.

[Fordman]

This car is a beast, recently there was a wheels magazine comparo on it, and to my suprise it took the Focus RS to the cleaners along with the WRX and many other hot hatches, and yet id still prefer an RS lol.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Fordman

This car is a beast, recently there was a wheels magazine comparo on it, and to my suprise it took the Focus RS to the cleaners along with the WRX and many other hot hatches, and yet id still prefer an RS lol.

Id love an RS but the 250 would make my choice VERY hard

[GULL]

mexican bat man your comments dont make sence,the megane is a production car and the nurburging is a race track,which every car maker takes thier cars to test ! Renault are the kings of hat hatches and have been for a few years now,bang for your buck it beats the rs focus hands down,not in looks but

[vztrt]

This Megane is the one with the cage in the rear?

[b0son]

Originally Posted by vztrt

This Megane is the one with the cage in the rear?

no, that was the r26r.

[FreddyDUZ747]

Wow,not suprised though tbh.They punch well above their weight class.

I remember test driving the Renault Clio Sport(125odd fwkw N/A)8 years ago and wow what a little well ballanced pocket rocket it was,can only imagine what this would be like.

[vztrt]

Ahh, cool.

[AUIIPURSUIT]

wow, and this renault isnt ugly.. id happily sit in that pocket rocket. very cool. props to renault.

[MethodX]

Impressive, but still a hatch, simply cannot get into them.
Why cant the Euros do hot small sedans? oh well.

[hiper]

best feature in that car has got to be the invisible rear mirror.
id be able to see so much better if i didn't have a rear mirror

[TZENU]

What are these things worth??? Im guessing around the same price as an Focus RS???

[b0son]

Originally Posted by TZENU

What are these things worth??? Im guessing around the same price as an Focus RS???

Much less... about $10k less. Of course, the Focus RS is a limited edition with a lot of one-off tech.

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by b0son

Much less... about $10k less. Of course, the Focus RS is a limited edition with a lot of one-off tech.

The RS wasn't a limited edition, in Europe at least. It was only a limited edition in Australia because Ford Australia could only get 300 released from Ford Europe.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by SteveJH

The RS wasn't a limited edition, in Europe at least. It was only a limited edition in Australia because Ford Australia could only get 300 released from Ford Europe.

Kind of correct.
Yeah your right they arent a limited edition although some would consider 11500 made worldwide and 315 in OZ limited.
Our lot were destined for Ireland so we were very lucky to get them.
But lets not turn this into a Megane vs RS thread
Either way this is still a fantastic time from the Megane, and considering its price surely it is arguably the best hot hatch in the world atm.

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Either way this is still a fantastic time from the Megane, and considering its price surely it is arguably the best hot hatch in the world atm.

Not sure if there is much to argue over, in performance at least, since it looks like being the fastest around a race track by a long way. 8 Seconds faster then the old Megane (the stripped out track day special at that) and 18 faster then the RS.

[Danny]

Tis a very impressive result, one that (understandably) is going off over at OZRenaultsport between the 250 owners. It's nice to get validation like this on something you have purchased.

Originally Posted by b0son

Much less... about $10k less. Of course, the Focus RS is a limited edition with a lot of one-off tech.

b0son, you forgot to add that these are a limited edition OS as well

Originally Posted by Fordman

This car is a beast, recently there was a wheels magazine comparo on it, and to my suprise it took the Focus RS to the cleaners along with the WRX and many other hot hatches, and yet id still prefer an RS lol.

Latest Wheels mag Pits the SV6 Commo, Subaru WRX, MX5 Mazda, XR6T ute and Megane RS250 against each other to find the best sports car for under $45k (although I have no idea what the SV6 was doing in it). Megane won that as well (along with some fine comments about the XR6T Ute which I was also chuffed with )

Originally Posted by vztrt

This Megane is the one with the cage in the rear?

No cage in the rear, in fact the differences are only black wheels with red outlining, a special Victory Yellow colour, with a black roof, 15hp Extra, and a set of Bridgestone Potenza RE050 Tyres in lieu of the Contisport Contact CS5 that come on the standard 19"s. Oh and don't forget the obligatory Renaultsport tradition of special "Trophy" decals.

Originally Posted by FreddyDUZ747

Wow,not suprised though tbh.They punch well above their weight class.

I remember test driving the Renault Clio Sport(125odd fwkw N/A)8 years ago and wow what a little well ballanced pocket rocket it was,can only imagine what this would be like.

Have had both. They really are amazing cars. It never fails to boggle my mind at what RenaultSport can do with a hatch.

Originally Posted by J.Molloy

Look to be around the $50-55k mark, not too bad considering

Yeah, I got my 2-Fiddy for low $50's

[J.Molloy]

Look to be around the $50-55k mark, not too bad considering

[Rodp]

Been seeing a number of new Clio's the last few days. Wasn't a fan of the original ones that came out here but love the look of the new ones.

I've done a hatch. I liked it. I'd consider either of those cars in the future.

[mik]

11 degrees, the turbo would be loving it, probably worth some good time off the lap? does look a good time regardless.

[Bossxr8]

RS 500?

Ford claimed an 8 minute flat time was within reach, but I can't find any official times, if it was even tested.