Renault Mégane R26.R test

Renault Mégane R26.R
Today, our test driver, Jessica is at the wheel of the Megane R26.R. Developed by the Renault ‘F1 Team’, its greatest asset is that it is ready for the race track.





For a bit more dosh you can have it with a four-point roll cage. Standard issue gear includes the carbon-fibre Sabelt bucket seats and a six point harness seat belt system. There’s nothing at the back but there is a driver side airbag, air-conditioning is an option, nearly all the soundproofing materials have been removed as has the radio.

The R26.R also sports a carbon engine cover, which brings the number of kilograms shredded to 123. The fog lights and windscreen washers have too been removed. The rear quarter panel windows and tail lights are made from polycarbonate and the windscreen wipers are gone. The exhaust pipes are made from titanium.

The engine hasn’t been worked on. It still develops 230 brake horsepower with a torque output of 310 Newton metres…and as we said earlier all the soundproofing gear has been stripped away.

Renault Sport is only going to build 450 R26.Rs with just 126 earmarked for France, which already makes it a collector’s piece. Renault Sport has modified the chassis. Grooved disc brakes have replaced the earlier pierced versions and for an add on price it can be shod on Toyo semi-slick tyres. Thanks to these changes, the R26.R set a lap record of 8’17” on the Nurburgring Nord Schliefe circuit last June 23rd.

With such a car at her disposal, Jessica headed to the Ferté Gaucher circuit along with LMS driver Xavier Pompidou…and just metres after going on to the track, the R26.R’s only drawback was omnipresent.



Xavier says that something strange happened when he got on the brakes…he says he didn’t brake that hard and in fact it is the driver aid…Jessica reminds Xavier she said to stay cool…and Xavier excuses himself….

This is the only criticism we can make of Renault Sport, they should have gone all the way in removing the brake assistance system in as much as the brakes are already very solid.


Xavier likes the brakes…Jessica agrees but wonders how they’ll be after ten laps…Xavier gives high marks to the front system for a front wheel drive car and asks if it comes with auto blocking…Jessica confirms and says that the standard Megane RS doesn’t have auto blocking and that she didn’t care for it. But she goes on to say that they went on to build a “Chassis Cup” version and the F1 Team has the auto blocking. She says that the base of the R26.R is a light weight version of the F1 Team with bucket seats, roll cage and auto blocking…Xavier says he believes it was more important to add the auto blocking….and Jessica says that thanks to the auto blocking the 230 horsepower only pass through the front axle.

Xavier explains how it under steers at the entry to a corner…and he doesn’t like how the back end reacts…and how he would like it if it came out a little more…Jessica remarks about how it slides and Xavier concludes by saying that it still under steers… This R26.R is a proper track car that can also be raced. This is a fine way for the Megane to end its career in style…and long live the Megane III RS!