GT7 Transcripts/Renault R5 Turbo '80

Extreme modifications to a front-wheel drive compact resulted in this midship monster born from a utility car.
The Renault R5 ('Cinq') Turbo was the talk of the 1978 Paris Motor Show, where it was displayed with its body panels removed. While this first model was only a prototype for entry in the WRC, the vehicle came on the market in 1980.
The R5 Turbo employed the same body shell as the normal Renault 5, but in order to more effectively transfer the turbo-boosted power to the road, the original model's FF layout was scrapped in favour of a mid-engine set-up where the entire powertrain, including the engine, transmission, and even the differential, sat on the top of the rear axle.
The engine was a small, water-cooled, 1,397 cc OHV inline-4, but thanks to its Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, Garrett turbocharger, and air-cooled intercooler, maximum power and torque were raised to 159.8 BHP and 22.5 kgfm for a truly substantial boost in engine performance, representing a 1.5x increase in power over the basic Renault 5, and a 3.3x increase in torque.
Of course the chassis and body were also strengthened. The front and rear wings, widened to fit the 5 Turbo's wider tyres, gave this car an irresistible visual impact. A big spoiler was also mounted on the top of the rear hatch, as well as a large air dam in front.
As a result of the extensive makeover, this 970 kg car was able to produce some astonishing performance figures. Maximum speed was 124.3 mph, with 0-400 m times at 15 seconds and 0-1,000 m times at 28 seconds. Debuting at the 1980 WRC in Corsica, the R5 Turbo took its first victory the following year at Monte Carlo. After that, the R5 Turbo was a ferocious contender at numerous events, forever branding the Renault name into WRC history.
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