Mégane RS 265 Trophy sets new FWD lap record of the Nürburgring (w/video)

As we reported last week, Renaultsport’s newest progeny – the Mégane RS 265 Trophy – has broken the lap record set by the Megane R26.R around the Nürburgring, lowering it by just under 9 seconds from 8min 16.9 seconds to 8min 7.97 seconds.

Although it was only officially confirmed this morning, development cars have been lapping the 14.7 mile circuit even quicker in testing. We understand the car was fitted with the standard road car’s Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres on the Trophy’s newly designed 19″ wheels, and that Renault development driver Laurent Hurgon set the time during the car’s second lap of the Nordschleife.

The Trophy comes fitted as standard with the Mégane 250’s Cup chassis, Recaro seats with yellow seatbelts and detailing, 19″ Speedline alloys in gloss black with red rim, standard Liquid Yellow i.d. metallic paint, ‘Trophy’ red decals on F1-style front blade and doors, LED daytime running lights, Renaultsport Monitor on-board performance tracking and an extra 15bhp (now 261bhp) and 20Nm of torque (now 360Nm).

The critically acclaimed Cup chassis (stiffer springs, dampers and anti-roll bar and grooved brake discs), mechanical limited slip differential is complemented by Brembo brakes, as well as the innovative PerfoHub independent steering axis front suspension set-up, which virtually eliminates torque steer.

No doubt we will hear more from Renault during the next few hours and we await the now obligatory video evidence, but it’s worth bearing in mind that just 50 of the 500 cars being made are destined for the UK with a sticker price of £27,820 on-the-road, so now might be a good time to pop down and get friendly with your local dealer.

Order books will open from the 20th June, with the first cars due to be delivered sometime around late July 2011.

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