The Turbo success story
June 1978 saw Renault win the 24 Hours of Le Mans and also pursue its ambitious programme in Formula 1. In both cases, Renault put its faith in turbocharging, a technique that produced gains in both power and torque thanks to an exhaust gas-driven turbine. This inspired the idea of a particularly potent version of Renault 5, capable of rivalling the likes of the Porsche 911, the Lancia Stratos and the Fiat 131 Abarth in the world of rallying.
All the advantages of a sports car!
In October 1978, Renault unveiled a full-scale model of the car. With its squat form, wide wings, small roof-mounted wing, air-intakes in the rear wings and, above all, the positioning of its engine in place of the rear bench seat, Renault 5 Turbo was made for competition.
Group 4 homologation regulations dictated that 400 cars be produced, the first of which saw the light of day in January 1980. The machine's lightening-fast acceleration and outstanding agility ensured that Renault 5 Turbo lived up to expectations and the car went on to carve out an impressive list of international rallying successes.
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RENAULT F1 TYPE RE40