The Megane Renaultsport 230 Renault F1 Team 11 R26, or the Renault Megane R26 as it was more commonly known - celebrating Fernando Alonso's success. The R26 was often considered as one of the hottest hatches upon its release.

 

The 2.0L turbocharged engine produces a respectable 227BHP. The limited-slip differential, new bump stops, uprated springs and dampers and anti-roll bars really made the Megane, what it should have been. And as 2008 hit, a new hot hatch took the lead.

The R26R.

 

When the R26R arrived, with a very reasonable £23k price tag, you couldn't do much better. Arguably, the R26R was at the forefront of escalating hatch records at Nürburgring.

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The R26R was a revelation, a lighter R26 with considerably more agility, went onto record a lap faster time around the Green Hell than the Porsche Cayman S at just 8:17.

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As with many previous Renaults, and their tendency to go to extremes for speed, the R26R did not disappoint.

 

The rear seats were replaced with a bolted red half-cage, rear windows replaced with plastic and the bonnet manufactured from carbon fibre. The seats were replaced with by fixed race seats and a five-point Sabelt harness. With over 100kgs stripped from the car in comparison to the standard R26.

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