Megane Trophy Supercar To Make UK Debut At 2005 Goodwood Festival Of Speed
Renault Sport’s fabulous Mégane Trophy supercar will make its official UK debut at the 2005 Goodwood Festival of Speed in the capable hands of former Renault Formula One driver, 55-year-old Frenchman Patrick Tambay.
Mégane Trophy’s wheels turned for the first time just prior to last Christmas and now UK spectators will get the opportunity to see the incredible 320hp, 3.5-litre, V6-engined car for the first time on British soil.
With the Mégane Renaultsport 225 roadcar used as a blueprint, the Mégane Trophy racer has been lowered by a full 10cm and features radically widened wheel arches and a monstrous rear diffuser – a la Formula One.
The powerful, mid-engined, Mégane Trophy will undoubtedly turn heads when parked in the Supercar Paddock and there won’t be a single spectator who isn’t in awe as it roars up Goodwood Hill with Tambay at the wheel.
Tambay’s countryman, and fellow ex-Renault Formula One star, René Arnoux will also make a welcome return to Goodwood this year, along with Renault’s first-ever Formula One car, RS01. The popular Frenchman always proves to be an annual favourite at Goodwood and is looking forward to making headlines once again.
Ragnotti celebrates 20th anniversary of giant-killing Tour de Corse win
Known worldwide as ‘Monsieur Renault’ due to his career-long association with the manufacturer, French star Jean Ragnotti will once again be present at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his amazing victory in the 1985 Tour de Corse rally.
At the wheel of his triumphant Renault 5 Maxi Turbo, Ragnotti will be a favourite with the crowds as he is year-on-year at Goodwood and Renault will be working hard to make the event one to remember for the 59-year-old as he basks in the glory of being the marque’s most famous and successful rally driver.
In celebration of Renault’s heritage in small, potent hatchbacks, a 400hp Renault 5 Maxi Supertourisme race car will make an appearance this year as part of Renault’s static display.
The much-loved Clio Williams, the ground-breaking Renault 5 Turbo 1 roadcar and a wealth of cars from the current ‘Renaultsport’ stable, including the Clio Renaultsport 182, Clio Renaultsport V6 255 and Mégane Renaultsport 225, make up the rest of the display.
The marque’s current Formula One challenger will be present at the 2005 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The car proved its capability immediately at the start of the season with victory in the Australian Grand Prix for Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella and a podium finish for his Spanish Renault F1 team-mate Fernando Alonso.
Renault’s Le Mans 24 Hours heritage will once again be celebrated with the help of legendary competitor Jean-Pierre Jaussaud. The 67-year-old Frenchman, who took victory for Renault at the wheel of the Alpine A442B in the 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours Race, will drive its sister car, the ‘Long Tail’ A443, at Goodwood this year.
The car, which was driven at Le Mans in 1978 by Jean-Pierre Jabouille and Patrick Depailler, was expected to win the event outright. But an engine failure six hours from the end of the race saw Depailler coast to a halt on the Mulsanne Straight, leaving Jaussaud and Didier Pironi to take the win and cement their place in history.
Last, but certainly not least, the Renault 40CV ‘World Record’ car from 1926 will be guided up Goodwood Hill by Jean Ragnotti. With this car, Renault reclaimed the 24-hour world speed record from Bentley around the fearsome, banked Montlhèry circuit near Paris.
GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2005: RENAULT UK CARS/DRIVERS
Competition
Year - Model/Driver 1926 Renault 40 CV/Jean Ragnotti
1977 Renault RS01/René Arnoux
1978 Renault A443/Jean-Pierre Jaussaud
1985 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo/Jean Ragnotti
2004 Renault R24 Formula One Car/TBA
2005 Mégane Trophy/Patrick Tambay
Static ‘Renaultsport’ Display
1980 Renault 5 Turbo 1 Roadcar
1987 Renault 5 Maxi Supertourisme
1993 Clio Williams 16V
2005 Clio Renaultsport V6 255
2005 Clio Renaultsport 182
2005 Mégane Renaultsport 225
2005 Renault R25 Formula One Car
