Infiniti Red Bull Racing new recruit Daniil Kvyat took the helm and steered the Megane R.S. 275 Trophy-R to this impressive time

The ‘Albert Park Challenge driven by Renault’ was held on Thursday 12th March and is a new addition to the 2015 Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix schedule.

In 2014, the Megane R.S. 275 Trophy-R first took on Germany’s infamous Nürburgring and then Japan’s Suzuka to set new front-wheel-drive production car lap records of these two challenging circuits. Now the Megane R.S. 275 Trophy-R has added a third title to its crown by taking on the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit.

Buzzing when he finished the lap, Daniil Kvyat said : “It was a good car, nice to drive. Good suspension and it was a very good feeling. I have driven a Megane RS not the Trophy-R before in Moscow once – it’s a very nice car. With the Megane RS Trophy-R you can feel it is more sporty, the suspension is more sporty. It is made for proper racing driving. ”

When asked what is takes to set a lap record Kvyat commented : “Good driving helps. You need to put a lap together knowing the track quite well and not making mistakes - this is key for a good lap time.”

Commenting on the impressive time by the Megane R.S. 275 Trophy-R, Justin Hocevar, Managing Director Renault Australia, said : “
It was fantastic to watch the Megane R.S. 275 Trophy-R belting around the Albert Park Circuit and expertly driven by Daniil Kvyat.
The Trophy-R represents the best of Renault Sport and it’s exciting for us to be able to demonstrate this in Australia. It is a very apt way for us to celebrate the 20th year of Formula One in Melbourne.”

Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO, Andrew Westacott was impressed with the lap time achieved by Kvyat in the road going Megane.

“You could definitely see that young Daniil was pushing hard in the Renault Megane and he produced a very impressive lap time. Let’s just hope the extra miles around the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit don’t give him the edge over Daniel Ricciardo on Sunday !” Westacott said.
Only 50 examples of the track-bred Megane R.S. 275 Trophy-R have been allocated to Australia from a global production run of 250 cars, and one of these was used for the Albert Park Challenge.

The Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy-R comes as standard with the Cup chassis (complete with mechanical limited-slip differential), the 2.0-litre petrol R.S. engine boosted to 275bhp, a titanium Akrapovic exhaust system, ‘Öhlins Road&Track’ one-way adjustable dampers with composite springs and MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres that are specifically-adapted to the car.

A Nürburgring Accessory Kit including a lithium-ion battery, steel/aluminium brake discs and six-point harness belts with aviation-style buckles is available in Australia and contributes to Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy-R’s lighter weight.

This is the first time that a commercially-available production vehicle under or up to 2.0-litres has set a timed lap of the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit.