1982 Renault 5 Turbo Group 4 Works Rally Car

The Renault 5 Turbo was a mid-engined homologation special built in limited quantities to contest Group 4 and Group B rallying between 1980 and 1986. Using the company's knowledge of F1-derived turbo-charging, their experience and expertise were applied to their 1.4-liter overhead-valve engine, resulting in 160 horsepower (in road guise). Top speed was 200 km/h and zero-to-sixty took under seven seconds. The engine was mounted amidship - where the rear passenger seats had been - and drove the rear wheels via a five-speed transaxle.

The Renault 5 Turbo two-seater supercar was shown in prototype form at the 1978 Paris Salon and made its competition debut in 1980 on the Tour de Corse. Jean Ragnotti's 250bhp works car was leading the event prior to succumbing to electrical trouble. The following year, Ragnotti/Andrie won the Monte Carlo Rally outright for Renault and the following year Ragnotti won the Tour de Corse again.

By this point in history, competition was continuing to escalate from other teams running four-wheel drive cars. Renault responded with more powerful 5 Tour de Corse and 5 Maxi Turbo variants. Ragnotti won another Tour de Corse in 1985. At the close of the season the works team retired the 5 Turbo from competition.

This Car
This ex-works Renault 5 Turbo was first registered on 11th March 1982 with number '38EHN75', running in Group 4 configuration for all of 1982. It then raced in Group B competition beginning in January 1983.

During the 1982 season, the car was driven for the Renault Sport works team by Francois Chatriot with navigator Annick Peuvergne, finishing 5th in the Rally Garrigues; 1st in the Rally Terre de Provence; 4th in the Rally Biarritz; and 4th in the Rally Tour de France.

The car was sold by Renault Sport to S.A. Thomasse Service in 1984 for 420,000 Frances. It changed hands again in June of 1993 when it passed to French rally driver Andre Renard. The next owner, racing driver Jean-Claude Cauvin, acquired the car in August of 2008.

Since that time, the car has been restored.

In 2012, the car was offered for sale at Bonhams Auction in Monaco. It had an estimated value of $160,000 - $180,000. Bidding failed to satisfy the vehicle's reserve and it would leave the auction unsold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2013