Maximum Attack
The Renault 5 Turbo came about thanks to Jean Terramorsi, the deputy head of product management for Renault responsible for limited-production models. In 1977, he conceived a sporting version of the company's Renault 5, but simply improving its handling or power output – as with the R5 Alpine – was not enough. Terramorsi felt he needed to turn it into a true rally car, using Renault's key technology: the turbocharger.
With its mid-mounted turbocharged engine, strengthened chassis and special suspension, its steel, polyester and aluminium body and its spectacular rear, far wider than the front, the R5 Turbo, unveiled in 1978, was the subject of great passion. The first version (Group 4) won the 1981 Monte-Carlo Rally and the 1982 Tour de Corse. Just 20 examples of the next version, named the "Tour de Corse" (TDC), were built for the 1983 season, in accordance with the new regulations for Group B, which replaced Group 4.
The factory pushed the engine output from 178 hp to 207 hp for the Tour de Corse, and by 1984 as much as 345 hp in the R5 Maxi Turbo – the final iteration of the Renault 5 Turbo rally car. The example featured here was driven by double World Rally Champion, Carlos Sainz in the 1985 Spanish Rally Championship.
This 1985 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo is part of a collection of 7 Group B rally cars which includes an Audi Sport Quattro S1, a Peugeot 205 T16 Evo 2, a Lancia 037 and S4, Ford RS200 and an MG Metro 6R4, all set for auction on Friday 5 February 2021 with Artcurial Motorcars. Photos © Peter Singhof / Artcurial.