Renault Eurocup Mégane Trophy: 2005-2013
The final iteration of the long-running Renault Eurocup series was the Mégane Trophy, which featured silhouette versions of the first and second-generation Renault Mégane. Fitted with mid-mounted Nissan VQ35 V6 engines producing around 325hp, these cars bore only a passing resemblance to their road-going counterparts.
Launched in 2005, the first-generation Mégane Trophy was used through to 2008 before the second-generation car took over for 2009. While not strictly the headline championship, the Mégane Trophy was one of the stand-out attractions in the World Series by Renault package throughout its life. The cars were exciting and unique, and the driving talent was often very impressive.
Several drivers who enjoyed success in the Mégane Trophy have gone on to establish themselves as big names in the world of sportscar racing: Mirko Bortolotti, Nicky Catsburg, Albert Costa and Maxime Martin all raced in the series, to name a few.
During its run, the Mégane Trophy was an iconic part of the global landscape of touring car racing. It provided opportunities for young talents to show their worth on an international stage, and the cars themselves were extremely memorable. Silhouette racers often capture the imagination in a special way, but the Méganes were especially wonderful looking bits of kit.
Sadly like most of Renault’s championships, the Mégane Trophy was discontinued in the mid-2010s. Despite ending relatively recently, the Mégane Trophy feels so distant from the modern racing world. It’s hard to imagine a manufacturer putting the required resources into a series like this today; promoting a hatchback by sticking a V6 in the back of a silhouette chassis is quite an old-school approach. Maybe that’s what makes the Mégane Trophy so alluring to reflect on.