One to Buy: ex-works / Jean Ragnotti 1982 Renault 5 Turbo Gr.4
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The trend of radically re-engineered low volume homologation specials that, for marketing reasons, resembled a manufacturer’s more prosaic offerings was most famously characterised by the FIA’s Group B regulatory framework. However, the ancestor of such creations actually arrived a few years prior.
The ruleset that directly preceded Group B was known as Group 4 and required a production run of at least 400 base cars to have been completed in a 24 month timeframe (compared to 200 in twelve months for Group B).
Group 4 yielded a host of infamous homologation specials, among the most iconic of which was Renault’s 5 Turbo: a mid-engined firecracker that looked like grandma’s shopping car on steroids.
Launched at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1980, the 5 Turbo’s Group 4 homologation application was rubber stamped eight months later. Memorably, the car went on to win on its WRC debut when Jean Ragnotti and Jean-Marc Andrie took victory at the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally.
For the 1982 season, Ragnotti contested three events for the Elf-backed Renault works team. His appearance at the European Rally Championship Criterium Alpin event in April yielded a third place finish while at the World Championship Tour de Corse in May, he won.
The Frenchman’s final event for Renault during the ‘82 season came at the gruelling Ivory Coast Rally which kicked off in late October. Currently on offer at the Historic Cars showroom in Paris is Ragnotti’s mount for the 5000km contest: chassis VF1822000C0000009.
Unfortunately, while Bruno Saby ultimately finished fourth, team-mate Ragnotti crashed out; having taken a jump too fast, ‘009’ landed on one front wheel and the steering column broke. With Ragnotti’s wrist badly swollen, the car was withdrawn.
Following its repatriation to France, ‘009’s original registration was reused by Renault Sport on another vehicle which was normal practice for carnet reasons. The Ivory Coast machine was retained by Renault Sport until 1984 at which point it was gifted to Jean Ragnotti. When handed over to Ragnotti, the car received a new identity: chassis number: B0000081.
Having subsequently resided at Renault Sport’s in-house historic specialists, Bozian Racing, ‘009’ was finally restored during the 1990s. The Bozian brothers carried out a full mechanical rebuild while the body was repaired by Daniel Loison with paintwork by Del Fiacco. Original elements to include the Ivory Coast Rally plates and crew documents were preserved. The finished car was presented to Jean Ragnotti in 1995 on the occasion of his 50th birthday.
The following is a quote from Renault marque historian, Gilles Vallerian: “With factory competition cars, it is always difficult to attribute with certainty the races contested and the results for each individual car. Indeed, official race cars often do not have a stamped chassis number, which is the case here. It was common for racing departments, little concerned with the administrative ‘road’ aspect of factory cars, to have fewer registration documents than vehicles! This was confirmed by Renault Sport boss, Patrick Landon. A registration document would be used on one car, then after an accident or withdrawal from racing, it would be transferred to a new chassis supplied by Matter, and so on…
It is often very difficult to be certain about the actual participation of a race car in a specific event. This is not the case with this R5 Turbo, which has a unique and particular history. This Renault 5 Turbo Group 4, ex registration 80 VS 91, is unquestionably the one that competed in the 1982 Ivory Coast Rally: its historical continuity is certain.
It retained its livery until restoration, and notably features a specific mounting of the front and rear bumpers — extended at the front and set back at the rear — to provide more space for long-travel gravel wheels. This unique configuration is clearly visible in period films and photographs of the Ivory Coast Rally.
It is exceptional to have an authentic factory rally car that belonged to one of its drivers, particularly one so emblematic of the Renault Sport adventure: this is the case with this Group 4 R5 Turbo entered in a World Championship event by one of the most popular French drivers, Jean Ragnotti. It has also undergone restoration by Renault Sport’s in-house engine specialists, the Bozian brothers.”
