GT5 Transcripts/Renault 5 Maxi Turbo Rally Car '85

Renault unveiled the 5 Maxi Turbo in 1978 (called the Cinque Maxi Turbo), just as it was setting its sights on the WRC Championship. The original Cinque was a compact FF (Front drive, Front engine) car, but Renault transformed it into potent MR (Mid-engine, Rear Drive race car, by ripping out the seats and relocating the engine behind the driver. That engine was a 1.4-liter pushrod inline-4 that featured an aluminum head and a Garrett T3 turbocharger. It produced 158 HP. To fortify the body, the aluminum skeleton was replaced with steel, while the steel roof, doors, and tailgate were conversely replaced with aluminum to shed unwanted weight.
Double-wishbone suspension was installed both front and rear, and large fiberglass fender flares were mounted over the wheel arches to accommodate wider tires. Debuting in the WRC in October of 1980, its performance impressed all who saw it kick up dust, but it didn't grab its first checkered flag until the opening stage of the following season in Monte Carlo. Because the rear-heavy 5 Maxi Turbo had a distinct disadvantage on the unpaved sections of the race, it only competed in the tarmac events. When the Group B era of the WRC began in 1983, Renault build a Group B-sped 5 Maxi Turbo, which made its debut in 1985. The engine was a 1527-cc unit with power increased to 350 HP.
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