Renault Megane 265 claims 'Ring record

17th June 2011

If you want to prove your performance credentials, there's only one track that cuts the mustard. The notoriously tricky Nurburgring in Germany is where fast car test their metal, and the Renault Megane has booked its place among the greats.

VIDEO: official footage of the Megane 265 on the Nurburgring

The Renaultsport Megane 265 Trophy, revealed here just last week, has shattered the record for a front-wheel drive car, previously held by its own Megane R26.R. The 8m 9.97s lap slashed almost 10 seconds from the R26.R's 8m 17s time set in 2008.

What makes Renault test driver Laurent Hurgon's achievement all the more impressive is that the R26.R was a stripped-out special with perspex windows, a roll cage and no rear seats, the 265 Trophy is nothing but a lightly modified version of the standard car with a little extra power and stickier tyres.

Auto Express contributor John Barker was there to witness the record fall. He told us: "The conditions were ideal this morning for a turbocharged engine, and Laurent told me that the cold track didn't actually make much difference as the car's basically on road tyres."