French firm will look to take back its front-wheel-drive Nürburgring lap record time in June with a new Renaultsport Mégane, which is likely to make productionRenault is likely to attempt a sub-eight minute Nürburgring lap time in June.
A photo posted on the firm's Facebook page includes an 'Under 8' graphic as well as the Renaultsport logo, and a number of other performance brands.
A second picture shows the rear of a Renaultsport car with a performance exhaust system provided by Akraprovic, a Slovenian manufacturer which currently stocks exhausts for the firm's Clio RS200 Turbo model.
However, considering that Renault will be looking to break the current lap record for front-wheel-drive production cars currently held by the Seat Leon Cupra 280, it's likely the firm will use a highly tuned version of the Mégane, which should also go on sale in limited numbers. The Leon set a new fastest time on the Nordschleife circuit of 7m58.4s last month, with an average speed of 96.8mph.
A new, stripped-out Mégane variant would certainly be on the cars for Renault, with a new Mégane due in 2015 sitting on Renault-Nissan's new CMF2 platform. This model could be something of a last hurrah for the current Mégane, in the same vein as the R26R model, which rounded out the previous generation of Renault's family hatch. The R26R previously held the Nürburgring record in 2008, before being reset with the Mégane RS Trophy in 2011.
Renault's model would also likely use performance Michelin tyres and upgraded Ohlins suspension components. The company has confirmed the attempt will take place on 16 June.
The French Firm isn't the only manufacturer aiming to break records at the famous track, as competition from within the Volkswagen Group has seen a new 'Super GTI' version of the Golf take to the Nürburgring in recent weeks. Another contender for future Nürburgring fame is the Honda Civic Type R, although that car is still a year away from showrooms.
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