The Renault 5 Turbo or the birth of a French myth

It is with great pleasure that the C&P team presents one of the legends of French motorsport: the Renault 5 Turbo:

But what is the history of this crazy concept straight out of Renault?

One evening in January 1976, after the commercial success of the Renault 5 Alpine, Jean Terramorsi, the deputy product manager, and his right-hand man Henri Lherm went to Dieppe (50). During this trip, the two colleagues follow their imagination: the R5 Alpine is good but it is necessary to propose a spectacular car, more impressive, a massive mouth, a turbo engine which asks only to go up in the turns, which makes us sweat in every bend! In other words, a war beast. Confident, they went to discuss this crazy project with the Renault management, and managed to convince them!

This supercharged version of the R5 was to be used as a marketing support for the classic versions of the R5 but also to meet the specifications of the groups 3 and 4 in Rally! This project will be called 822. To obtain a group 4 homologation, a minimum of 400 road homologated cars must be produced. The car will have a powerful engine but also placed in the passenger compartment in a central rear position (in winter it is practical). Wide tracks will then be designed to put the car on the road. Marc Deschamps made the first sketches of the concept, then Renault Style, Bertone, Alpine and finally Heuliez. It was then the turn of the Alpine designer, Yves Legal, to refine the work.

Unfortunately, Jean Terramorsi died before the 822 project could see the light of day... It is then Renault Sport directed by Gerard Larousse, taking over from Alpine at the time, which takes over the project.

It is in 1978 that the R5 Turbo is presented at the Paris Motor Show. A 4-cylinder in-line engine generating 160 hp at 6000 rpm was chosen.

The R5's rally debut was promising despite an engine failure at the 1979 Giro, driven by Guy Fréquelin. In order to obtain the long term homologation, a new era must start: the series production, not a small thing to do...

A small and complex production is born: the colors were not varied, but especially the assembly of the beast which is long. Indeed the parts are not manufactured in the same place, aluminum parts are used (in particular roof and doors) but also in polyester (wings and hood). The final assembly is done at Alpine. These are 802 examples of the R5 Turbo 1 that have been produced!

Renault does not want to stop there, and wants to release a phase 2 (unveiled in 1982 at the Paris Motor Show). 30kg heavier than its predecessor, a simpler interior but also less expensive; it goes from 115 000 francs (56 700 €) to 102 000 francs (38 000 €). 3167 examples of the R5 Turbo 2 were produced between 1982 and 1986.

A car that was not difficult to sell, and for good reason, an outstanding record of achievement!

Renault Sport entered a racing version in several championships and even the Tour de France auto in 1980. The steering wheel of the R5 Turbo was entrusted to Jean Ragnotti accompanied by his co-driver Jean-Marc Andrié: a first victory in 1981 in Monte-Carlo.

In 1982, Jean Ragnotti won the Tour of Corsica, Bruno Saby the Mont Blanc and the Garrigues, François Chatriot the Terres de Provence rally, and Jean-Luc Thérier the Biarritz rally, the Alpin-Behra criterium or the 1000 tracks!

Then in 1983, the Group 4 is replaced by the Group B, even more impressive and dangerous cars appear: we named the 205 Turbo 16. In response to Peugeot, Renault released the R5 Turbo Tour de Corse with 240 hp under the hood! But no podium for the R5...

Renault does not give up and unveils the R5 Maxi Turbo! The most powerful R5 ever produced. Indeed, this one develops 350 hp for

905 kg; a monster! Aerodynamics and shock absorbers have been reworked, new 16 inch rims. In 1985, this version will have won nine victories in rally (of which four for Ragnotti and three for Chatriot). A final season will follow and will allow Chatriot to win four of the eight rallies contested.

Today the R5 celebrates its 50th anniversary, and its big sister is still a motorsport legend that crosses generations.

Hugo CORTES