Chris Harris is one of the world’s most respected motoring journalists so it’s going to take a car that’s really special to get his attention. Renault 
seems to have one car that fits that bill, so the French automaker decided to invite Harris to race the R.S. 01 in the Renault Sport Trophy event at Silverstone.
For someone who has spent time behind the wheel of some of the fastest supercars and race cars in the world, Harris’ first impression of the R.S. 01 was music to the ears of Renault Sport. Not only was he openly gushing about the R. S. 01’s traction control and aerodynamic efficiency, he even went so far as to say that it had much better grip than any of the GT3 race cars he’s raced it in the past.
That’s high praise coming from Harris but it’s to be expected for a race car built by a company that’s been heavily invested in the highest levels of racing for decades. The R. S. 01 really is more than just a race car. Visually, it looks absolutely stunning; it’s a far cry from the company’s production models. But more important than its gorgeous aesthetics is the fact that the R. S. 01 was developed specifically to win races. It even has a Nismo-prepped, 3.8-liter, V-6 mill that’s been tuned to produce more than 500 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, all while being complimented by Renault’s robust expertise in the world of racing.
Harris may have been blown away by how R. S. 01 handled itself at Silverstone, but if the racer really is as good as advertised, Silverstone won’t be the only track where it’ll shine. If its form and development continues trending north, there might come a time when we begin talking about the R. S. 01 in historical terms.
Renault Sport R.S. 01
Read more about the Renault Sport R.S. 01 here.