So, a bit of background (shortened down)!
Back when I was 8, it was a dream of mine to own my own garage. At the same age I went to Lydden Hill Circuit for the first time to watch rallycross. There was a liquid yellow R26 Megane Rs racing, spitting flame and sounding incredible, along with the unique shape… I was hooked!
Fast forward to now, I wanted to treat myself for a successful start to Ellis Motorworks and came to the conclusion to scratch that itch 8 Year old me had! I’d settled on an R26 F1 Edition (around 5,000 made), until I got offered this rare little beast… I couldnt say no so bought it unseen as an Mot failure!
This was the evening it was dropped to the unit, the first time i’d lay my eyes on it!
This is a little different from the R26 F1 edition. This one being the Rs225 Team F1, was made by Renault as a celebration for Fernando Alonso winning the F1 World Championship in 2005.
This one is build number 510. Only 140 were made for the UK and this is only 1 of 26 left registered in the UK.
What a machine! Having 225hp from factory made this rare little hot hatch fairly nippy. However this one is hiding some modifications paired with a custom map carried out on a rolling road… Meaning this is actually running 268hp and 232lbft of torque! Someone say trackday?
MOT Repairs all done and it was back on the road, time to enjoy!! First drive up the forest!
At an average of 24mpg average of daily driving (33mpg on a run to Wales) or a solid 13mpg of heavy driving, it sure is thirsty… But it wasn’t bought to be good on fuel. Smiles per gallon however!!
A trip to Goodwood for the Initiate show definitely cemented the fact that this car needed to get out on track and fully stretch its legs!
Even got this photo sent to me from (Instagram tag : @samthompsonmedia).
Did someone say brake upgrade? C-Hooked and Vented discs, Yellow stuff pads and Braided lines… This can only mean one thing.. Right?
…Wrong, cracked wheel time meant new tyre and a wheel repair !
Okay, so wheel repaired . New tyre. Brakes upgraded.. Now it can only mean one thing??
First track day in the newly labeled ‘Spicy Baguette’ and what a day it was!
The morning threw up some issues and challenges. But come the afternoon sessions it was behaving itself and got one hell of a thrashing!!
Trackday - Survived
Tyres - Warm !!
Brakes - Even Warmer !!
My head in the helmet during what felt like the hottest day of the year and all this adrenaline flowing … The Warmest. But 8 Year old Connor did something he’d always dreamt of.. RESULT!!!
To be continued…
