Renault’s fire-breathing Megane RS Trophy-R has set a new lap record at Australia’s newest race circuit, The Bend Motorsport Park, in South Australia.
It’s the first record posted by the Megane in this country and marks the official launch of the French hot hatch in Australia.
Driven by TCR Australia driver James Moffat, the hot hatch posted a time of 2’14’316.
Trophy-R is powered by the same 224kW 1.8-litre turbocharged four as the Trophy version.
Gains in performance have been achieved through a drastic weight reduction program, along with completely redesigned suspension and improved aerodynamics.
“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 RS 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.”
Back in April, the Megane RS Trophy-R Record Breaking edition claimed the outright record for a front-wheel drive car on the 20.6 km Nordschleife at the Nürburgring, with a time of 07:40.100.
It also clocked up a reference time of 07:45.389 on the official full lap of the circuit.
With global numbers to 500 worldwide, Australia has secured only 12 Megane RS Trophy-R vehicles which were all sold online at record pace following the car’s global release in July.
Renault Australia has also secured one of only 30 Megane RS Trophy-R Record breaking versions which will go on sale in 2020 via public auction.
Australia will also receive 100 of the limited edition Megane RS Trophy.
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