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Carsales Staff4 Mar 2015
NEWS

Renault RS 275 to set more records

Go-fast Renault Megane to set new record around Australian F1 GP circuit

Not content with its title of world's fastest front-drive production car, having smashed the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time back in July 2014, Renault will make history on Thursday March 12, 2015, when the Megane RS 275 Trophy R sets the first ever production car lap time at the Albert Park F1 GP circuit in Melbourne, Australia.

Dubbed the 'Albert Park Challenge driven by Renault' the 201kW Megane RS 275 Trophy-R will be piloted by Infiniti Red Bull Racing young-gun Daniil Kvyat.

"I'm really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the Megane R.S. 275 Trophy-R and I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to set the first ever production car lap record of the Albert Park Circuit," said Kvyat.

"It will be a great opportunity to get some track time ahead of the Grand Prix, and even better to do it with a Renault engine," said Kvyat, who was born in 1994 in Russia and is team mate of Australian Daniel Ricciardo in 2015 after being promoted from the junior Toro Rosso team.

It's not clear what sort of time the F1 driver will set around the 5.3 kilometre, 16 turn street circuit situated just a few kilometres from the heart of Melbourne city, but for reference the lap record is currently 1:24.125. That time was set by Michael Schumacher driving a Ferrari in 2004.

Justin Hocevar, Renault Australia's managing director, said, "Our Renault Sport brand is renowned for its dominance on race tracks around the globe and we're confident that we'll set a cracking time for this new lap record."

The RS 275 Trophy-R has conquered Germany's Nurburgring and then took on Japan's Suzuka circuit, where it also owns the FWD production car lap record. Albert Park will make it a three-peat.

"We're delighted to have Infiniti Red Bull Racing's Daniil Kvyat driving the Megane R.S. and I personally can't wait to see what sort of time he can achieve," said Hocevar.

Expected to attract plenty of media attention on the Thursday, the first official day of the Australia F1 Grand Prix, Renault Australia will be more than happy with the spotlight considering Australia is the second largest global market for the Megane RS after France.

Renault engines also power the Infiniti Red Bull Racing team's F1 cars.

Read more via our review of the Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R, of which 50 units of a global production run of just 250 have been earmarked for Australia, and the 'regular' Megane RS 275 version.

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