Renault has revealed its intentions to attempt a sub-eight minute Nurburgring lap time in June, through a series of images published to its official Facebook page.
To which our initial response was: "So what?" The very fastest cars can now lap the fearsome 12.9-mile circuit, dubbed the 'Green Hell' in less than seven minutes. So why then is Renault making a big song-and-dance about cracking the eight-minute barrier?
Well, the car it will be using isn't a rarefied, track-ready racer but a Megane. The French firm is aiming to topple the SEAT Leon Cupra 280's record for a front-wheel drive road-legal production car, which currently stands at 7 minutes 58.4 seconds.
If they manage it, Renault will reclaim the title it originally secured in 2008 with the Megane R26.R and reset in 2011 with the Megane RS Trophy.
The fact that Renault is planning a big two-finger salute to SEAT is amusing; however, there's more. If the Megane they'll be using is road-legal, there's every chance it could make it onto dealer forecourts.
Unfortunately, Renault is keeping schtum about the new car until the record attempt in June; however, the teaser pics do suggest that the car will feature Michelin tyres, an Akrapovic exhaust, and suspension tuned by Ohlins. And if it's to better the Leon Cupra 280's record, it'll also have to be pretty fast.
Roll on June...
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