Renault Megane RS Trophy-R launches in Australia with a lap record at The Bend

It’s just launched in Australia and it’s already sold out (at $74,990!), but the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R has another impressive trick up its sleeve. It’s set the front-drive lap record at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

Having already taken to The Bend as a competitor in the 2020 Performance Car of the Year, the Trophy-R has set a lap time at the track (albeit on a different configuration), but its 2:14.316 time set under Renault Australia’s watch with TCR Australia driver James Moffat at the wheel is the first official time revealed.

Full specs and details of the Megane RS Trophy-R

“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 [race] cars racing here this weekend really shows the capabilities of the car,” Moffat says.

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The car wasn’t specified in Record Breaking version, with carbon wheels and carbon ceramic brakes, which means Moffatt drove one of 12 Trophy-Rs allocated to Australia.

“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 Megane RS Trophy-R's FWD Nurburgring record

With a 220kW version of the 1.8-litre turbo four unit fitted to all Megane RS models, the Trophy-R also features a 6-speed manual ‘box with a shorter shift.

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Renault Australia managing director Anouk Poelmann called the record an “amazing way to kick off the Megane R.S. Trophy-R’s story in Australia.”

“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.”

An auction with details yet to be confirmed will take place to decide the buyer of the one Record Breaking specification Megane RS Trophy-R assigned to Australia.