Monaco
1982 Renault 5 Turbo Group 4
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| Monaco, Monaco
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- Prepared for Renault Sport and driven by Alain Prost and Jean-Marc Andrié in the 1982 Rallye du Var; later rebodied with a new shell and chassis number following an accident
- • Finished 3rd in class and 7th overall in the 1986 Tour de Corse
- Campaigned in 28 rallies between 1983 and 1988 by former owner Michel Neri, with two victories and 12 podiums
- Competed in multiple period events including the Rallye d’Antibes, Ronde Nationale de Corte, Critérium des Cévennes, and Tour de Corse
- Currently finished in the stunning Marlboro livery of Prost and Andrié
- Accompanied by a full report from Renault 5 expert Gilles Vallerian
Built in the summer of 1982 at Renault’s Viry-Chatillon facility, chassis “C0000027” was road-registered by Renault Sport on 29 September 1982. Marque historian Gilles Vallerian believes this Renault 5 Turbo was prepared at Danny Snobeck’s workshop, and was built as a “petit Group 4” producing 220 horsepower.
On 29 October, Alain Prost, assisted by co-driver Jean-Marc Andrié, entered the car into the 1982 Rallye du Var. Numbered “5” and—due to Prost’s Formula 1 sponsorship—clothed in the famous Marlboro livery, this would be his first time competing in Group 4. On the first stage he was tied for 7th place, but Prost’s modification of the accelerator pedal was causing it to stick, forcing him off the course on two occasions, the second resulting in early retirement on the 7th stage. In a post-race interview, Prost stated that he wanted to compete again, but by 1983 team bosses would not authorise it.
The car was returned to Snobeck after the Rallye du Var, and in the spring of 1983 it was purchased by Michel Neri, who re-registered it on 2 May that year. The Renault was then homologated for Group B and was raced by Neri both in Corsica and on the continent no fewer than 28 times from 1983 to 1989, with considerable success.
Neri took his first podium at the 1984 Rallye du Maquis, finishing 3rd overall and 1st in Group B. During the 1985 Tour de Corse, the car suffered a large front and rear impact and was subsequently repaired using a Turbo 2 shell, transferring the retrievable mechanical components. After five months, Neri was back racing and finished 3rd overall at the Rallye du Marquis on 10 November 1985. He continued to compete with this Renault 5 Turbo until 1989.
In 1990, Neri sold this Turbo 5, which then changed hands several times before ending up with a collector. While in his care the car was restored and returned to the iconic Prost-Marlboro livery. It was acquired by the current owner in 2020.
Encapsulating the history of one of the most iconic rally cars of the 1980s, this car would make a fine addition to any collection of significant racing machines.
