GRR

Video: Watch a 300PS Renault 5 GT Turbo struggle to stay grounded

01st May 2019
Laura Thomson

There’s something about a mid-80s hot hatch that gets our hearts racing here at GRR. And it doesn’t get much hotter than a Renault 5 GT Turbo – arguably the forebearer of French hot hatches – tuned to produce more than double its original output…

The brainchild of Lamborghini Countach designer Marcello Gandini, the 1.4-litre 5 GT Turbo was destined to look good and perform even better. It was effectively a rehashed version of the previous decade’s original, weighing just 853kg, and producing 116.6PS (115bhp) and 164Nm (121lb ft) of torque.  Coupled with wide-grilled bumpers, over-exaggerated arches and yellow front fog lights, this mean little French machine meant business.

So imagine our delight when a video of last year’s Challenge del Lupo surfaced, showcasing a highly-tuned version of the front-engined fiend taking on one of Italy’s most technical tracks, Castelletto Circuit. Courtesy of YouTube car fanatic 19Bozzy92, the 10-minute video focusses on Maurizio "Merry" Silvestri’s AP Motorsport-modified Renault 5 GT Turbo, which produces in excess of 300PS (296bhp) at 5,900 rpm (with 1.6 bar of turbo pressure) and 365Nm (270lb ft) of torque at 4,970 rpm.

With a stiffened chassis, Sadev ST90 sequential gearbox and an incredibly low weight of only 760kg, this is a serious track-ready hot hatch. Watch from five-different camera angles as Silvestri struggles to keep it grounded...

  • Renault

  • Renault 5

  • Video

Explore our hospitality packages

Book now
Goodwood image
rallye_monte_carlo_historique_video_play_06042016.png

Historic

Video: Skirting 200ft Drops In A Renault 5

06th April 2016

Renault Embleme concept 2024  MAIN.jpg

News

Renault outlines net zero aims with Emblème concept

04th October

renaultsport_evo_race_video_play_12052016.png

Historic

Video: Renaultsport Clio or Renault 5 Turbo – Which is Faster?

12th May 2016

fos-2019-renault-21-jordan-butters-video-main-goodwood-15072019.jpg

Historic

The Renault 21 SuperTourisme was Renault’s original touring car

03rd October 2019

mclaren_renault_goodwood_20092017_list_01.jpg

Historic

Famous Five... Renault-powered F1 winners

20th September 2017

renault_5_turbo_bonhams_retromobile_list_01022017_16.jpg

Historic

Ex-Ragnotti Renault 5 Turbo up for grabs at Retromobile

01st February 2017

renault-5-track-video-italy-goodwood-01052019.jpg

Historic

Video: Watch a 300PS Renault 5 GT Turbo struggle to stay grounded

01st May 2019

renault-5-hillclimb-drift-video-onboard-goodwood-26112020.jpg

Historic

Video: Super sideways Group B Renault 5 Turbo

26th November 2020