Renault's Megane R26.R Up to 3 Seconds Faster than the 300HP Focus RS at UK Tracks
According to Renault, the most potent version of the previous generation Megane RS, the 230HP R26.R that went on sale in October 2008 for a limited run of 450 examples, 230 of which are destined for Britain, has set new benchmark lap times at four UK tracks. The French carmaker announced that at Silverstone, Drivers-Republic recorded a lap time of 1 minute and 19.4 sec, almost three seconds faster than the more powerful Ford Focus RS that is equipped with a 300HP 2.5-liter turbocharged five pot while at the West Circuit at Bedford Autodrome, Evo magazine timed the R26.R at 1m 29 sec beating the RS by almost two seconds. 
At Bruntingthorpe, Performance Car said that it timed the R26.R faster than the Focus RS, the Subaru Impreza STi Type UK and found it even faster than a 360hp Revo-tuned Seat Leon Cupra. Finally, at Millbrook, Autocar magazine recorded a time of 1min and 15.6 seconds, a second faster than the Focus RS.
The French carmaker said that the R26.R, which boasts the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 230HP as the normal R26 but weighs 123kg or 271 lbs less than its standard counterpart, has now set benchmark times for a front-wheel drive production car at Silverstone, Bedford Autodrome, Millbrook and Bruntingthorpe.
Last year, the Megane R26.R established a new lap record for a front-wheel drive production car at the 13-mile Nurburgring circuit in Germany recording a time of 8 minutes 17 seconds.
- Honda Confirms 'ring Time For New Civic Type-r – Fastest Fwd Ever!
Honda has officially confirmed that its new turbocharged Civic Type-R is capable of completing a lap of the Nurburgring north loop in Germany. The Civic was clocked at 7 minutes 50.63 seconds, which makes nearly four seconds a lap faster than the Renault...
- Renault Teases Hotter Megane Rs, Suggests 'ring Time Of Under 8 Minutes
Evidently, the Seat Leon Cupra 280's record breaking Nürburgring lap time for a production hatchback of 7 minutes and 58.44 seconds that took the crown from the current Megane RS Trophy (8:07.97 min) didn't sit well with Renault that is preparing...
- Seat Leon Cupra 280 Sets New 'ring Record For Fwd Production Cars With 7m58.44s
They didn’t tease it for nothing; Seat’s new Leon Cupra 280 has set a new Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for front-wheel drive production cars with a time of 7m58.44s. That’s almost 10 seconds faster than the previous record...
- Insider: 2009 Renault Megane Coupe Rs With 250hp To Bow In Geneva
Renault's super-hot performance version of the new Megane Coupe that was unleashed at last year's Paris Show will break cover in Geneva on March 3. The Megane Coupe RenaultSport (RS), will be equipped with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine...
- More Laptimes From Evo
Superb British performance car mag, evo, has some interesting new laptimes published in issue 114. Â The Bedford Autodrome's West Circuit is always the sight of evo's lap testing, a 1.8 mile circuit that the magazine testers call 'fast and...