PARIS, 30 August 16H
French title
HTP application in progress
Chassis number: VF182200000500109
Cévennes” Gr. B configuration
Ready to run in the French VHC Rally Championship
Ideal for the historic Tour de Corse
Very nice restoration / Ex-Ferry Development
In the 1970s and 1980s, rallying was one of the most popular forms of motor sports in Europe. Big or small manufacturers, all saw a huge development and marketing potential to it. One after the other, they entered the sport, fighting for a place on the podium. In order to enter, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile stipulated that competition cars had to be homologated and produced in small series. It was in this context that the Renault 5 Turbo was born.The engineers in Boulogne-Billancourt worked hard to beef up the modest city car: the R5 was considerably modified.
The engine, a 1,397 cc, to which a Garret T3 turbo was added, was moved to a central rear position and the 5-speed gearbox came from the R30 TX. The bodywork was also extensively revised. R5 3-door hulls were taken from the production line at Dieppe to be modified at Heuliez,where they were widened by almost 23cm before finishing their assembly on the same assembly line as the Alpine A310, in Dieppe again.If the R5 Turbo is a real firecracker on the road, it is even more impressive on the rally stages, in the hands of professionals and amateurs.
Renault Sport’s approach was original: unlike other manufacturers, the company wanted to offer its customer teams a car that performed as well as the factory version. This is how the “Cévennes” was born in 1981, a customer version of the R5 Turbo in Gr. 4. 20 examples were assembled by the factory, but it was also possible to assemble it thanks to different kits of 185, 200 or 250 hp.The car we are presenting today is a 1986 Renault 5 Turbo 2, the last year of production.
Dedicated to competition use as soon as it left the factory, this car was sold in 1992 to its second owner Gilles Ciamin, stunt driver and father of WRC3 driver Nicolas Ciamin. He then sold it in 2015 to Patrick Duflot, owner of the famous racing guru Ferry Développement. Before selling it to its current owner, he had it restored and prepared in his workshop between June 2020 and March 2021. The car, which of course has its original body, was restored at great expense in Gr. B configuration.
The engine was entirely rebuilt to Ferry Développement’s recognized standards and a short reinforced Cévennes gearbox was fitted. A Gr. B approved double wishbone front axle was fitted as well as carbon-Lorraine ventilated discs and 14-inch aluminum Minilite wheels. Safety equipment was not forgotten, with a Matter FIA roll bar meeting the latest specifications. The engine was run for five hours and 150km of testing was carried out to tune it after its restoration.
Our test drive gave us an idea of the quality of its preparation. The turbo effect of its 235 hp is very present without being violent, with an incisive and precise handling and steering of the front axle. Braking is firm and balanced thanks to the new pedal box and steering changes are agile and precise. Fabulous to drive and wonderful to listen to, this Renault 5 Turbo 2 is certainly one of the most agile and well-tuned ‘Cévennes’ thanks to the expertise of Ferry Développement.
A rally legend and a true French motoring heritage, this Renault is only begging to be brought back on special stages... and above all on the podium!
