Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R sets new lap record at The Bend

The Renault Megane R.S Trophy-R has extended its record-breaking run after setting a new front-drive performance benchmark at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

The French hot hatch, which is limited to just 500 examples globally – 12 of those coming to Australia - lapped the 4.95km ‘International Circuit’ at Tailem Bend in a scintillating 2.14:316 recently to set the front-wheel drive production car post.

In last weekend’s season-ending TCR round at The Bend, in which the Renault Megane competes, the field lapped the circuit between 1.55 and 2.00mins.

The record-breaking Megane R.S. Trophy-R was driven by the Renault-backed Garry Rogers Motorsport TCR Australia driver James Moffat.

“To be able to take a road car and put it onto a track such as The Bend Motorsport Park and set a record time at the circuit that rivalled the times of the production cars racing here this weekend really shows the capabilities of the car,” Moffat said.

“The Megane R.S. Trophy-R was first of all a great fun car to drive and I was very impressed with not only the engine performance but the braking and cornering performance, I really have nothing but good things to say about it, it was just so much fun.”

The track-focussed Renault Megane RS Trophy-R — which became the fastest front-wheel drive production car ever to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife in April when it beat the Honda Civic Type R with a time of 7:40.10 – will cost a stratospheric $74,990 plus ORCs in Australia.

That makes the Trophy-R $22,000 more expensive than the Trophy manual on which it’s based, but is still less than what Renault charges in France (€55,000 or about $A88,000) and lower than the circa-$78K prices the Audi RS 3 and Mercedes-AMG 45 were last sold at here.

Renault Australia has also secured one Megane R.S. Trophy-R Record breaking version (one of only 30 worldwide) which will go on sale in 2020 via a public auction. Australia will also receive 100 of the limited edition Megane R.S. Trophy.

The limited-edition Trophy-R is dubbed “the ultimate track car” but is powered by the same 220kW/400Nm 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine as the Trophy manual (the auto version of which offers 420Nm) – up from 205kW/390Nm in standard Megane RS 280 models.

However, the track-focussed Trophy-R – distinguished by red wheels, a vented carbon bonnet and pearl white paint with red accents around the headlights – weighs 130kg less before options, features a specific aero kit and rides on redesigned suspension with adjustable Ohlins dampers and unique Bridgestone Potenza S007 tyres.

It also brings many optional items from the Trophy as standard, including carbon ceramic front brakes, a lighter lithium battery, Alcantara-clad race seats with six-point Sabelt harness, titanium Akrapovic exhaust and ditching the rear seat.

The Renault Megane RS Trophy-R Record Edition ups the ante further with Australian-made carbon-fibre wheels as seen on the Ford GT and Ferrari models, plus even more suspension and aerodynamic tweaks.

“What an amazing way to kick off the Megane R.S. Trophy-R’s story in Australia, with yet another track record set by this high performance hot-hatch,” Anouk Poelmann, Renault Australia Managing Director said.

“With Australia’s allocation for Megane R.S. Trophy-R already sold out, and more than 50 people already registering their interest for the Megane R.S. Trophy-R Record Breaking version, it is clear this Renault Sport prepared vehicle has a very strong place in the hearts of car enthusiasts in this country.”