Chassis Number: B0000454
For 1982, Renault introduced its Renault Turbo 5 Group 4 rally car, and it turned out to be an absolute firecracker. It wasn’t a “homologation special” based on a warmed-through production car, but a totally focused little racer featuring a 270-bhp, 1,397-cc, turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, 5-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, independent front and rear suspension with anti-roll bars, and four-wheel disc brakes.
This R5 (chassis B0000454) was delivered new in 1982 to Renault’s dealership in Chartres, which was immediately keen to enter events with it. Renault itself was totally focused on its efforts to win the Formula One World Championship and had no capacity for anything else; however, it did offer technical, design and parts support to Renault Chartres, so this was as close as any R5 came to being a true Works rally car. Luckily, the team at Chartres was able to secure the services of famed rally driver Jean-Luc Thérier to pilot the R5, and he recruited the very capable Michel Vial as his co-driver.
