Renaultsport crowned Manufacturer of the Year by Top Gear magazine (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Renaultsport crowned Manufacturer of the Year by Top Gear magazine

11:37am Tuesday 22nd December 2009

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IRREVERENT TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson doubtless upset a few million enthusiasts by trashing a fabulous Twingo Renault-sport 133 in his recent show.

But I suppose his defence (apart from the problems that come with a certain age) is that Top Gear’s just crowned Renaultsport its 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 – best not battered then diluted in St George’s Channel – the new Clio Renaultsport 200 and the imminent arrival on UK shores of the stunning looking and behaving Megane 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 Megane all out in hot form and all of them at their best ever. For services to hot hatches, we salute you.”

Now in its tenth 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: “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 Megane 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 Megane Trophy with 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, next April, 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.

Megane 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 next month.

Customers can find further information at the dedicated website at renaultsport.co.uk.

• Don’t forget the Top Gear Live exhibition at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

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