RENAULTSPORT IS BBC TOP GEAR MAGAZINE’S

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR

Renaultsport has been chosen as Top Gear magazine’s Manufacturer of the Year.  

A vintage year for the performance subsidiary of Renault, 2009 has seen the introduction of the new pocket rocket Twingo Renaultsport 133 Cup, the new Clio Renaultsport 200 and the imminent arrival on UK shores of the stunning Mégane Renaultsport 250.

Conor McNicholas, Editor of Top Gear, said, “Renaultsport has been impressing us for years but 2009 was the year where the whole project hit a new sweet spot – Twingo, Clio and Mégane all out in hot form and all of them at their best ever. For services to hot hatches, we salute you"

Now in its 10^th year, the Top Gear awards are a global recognition by the TV, magazine and online teams of the best from the last 12 months of the motoring world.

Remi Deconinck, Managing Director of Renault Sport Technologies, said, “The whole team at Renaultsport are honoured to receive this award.  We like to think that Renaultsport and Top Gear share some fundamental values: accessible, enthusiastic and professional and with a well-developed sense of fun.  Above all, we share a passion for cars and driving.”

Renault Sport Technologies is a subsidiary of the Renault group. Its overall mission includes three principal areas of activity:

• the design, development, manufacture and sale of production performance models (Twingo Renaultsport 133, Clio Renaultsport 200 and Mégane Renaultsport 250)
  
• the production and sale of competition cars for rallying: the new Twingo Renaultsport R1 and R2, Clio Renaultsport R3 Access and Maxi
  
• the production and sale of competition cars for circuit racing: Renault Formula 2.0, Renault Formula 3.5, Clio Cup and Mégane Trophy
  
• the organisation of international single-make championships (World Series by Renault, Clio R3 Trophies) and Renaultsport Experience activities (trackdays and factory visits).
  

The 2009 Renaultsport range comprises:

Twingo Renaultsport 133 – the entry-level to the passion of Renaultsport.  With diminutive size and weight, the 133hp naturally aspirated engine provides plenty of thrills.  The range comprises the 133 Cup, 133 and, in April 2010, the introduction of the Twingo Gordini Renaultsport - a fresh stance on the famous design cues long associated with the Gordini name.

Clio Renaultsport 200 – the hot hatch that has punched well above its weight in various performance car of the years tests in 2009.  Available in 200 Cup or 200 versions, the road car is based very closely on the highly-successful Clio Cup race car.

Mégane Renaultsport 250 – universally praised from the international launch, hot hatch enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the arrival on UK shores of both the 250 Cup and 250 in January.

Customers can find further information at the dedicated Renaultsport website at www.renaultsport.co.uk or on Sky Guide channel 883

ENDS