RENAULT R5 TURBO Gpe 4 1982

Exceptional provenance
Genuine factory car
Restored by the Bozian brothers
Jeannot's car

Jean Ragnotti's Renault 5 Turbo: the last factory Group 4 R5 Turbo built by Renault Sport's rally competition department, just before the arrival of the Group B cars.
Uniquely, it was Jean Ragnotti himself who sold his former Rallye de la Côte d'Ivoire 1982 mount... to the current owner.


The Renault 5 Turbo Group 4 Factory
The Renault 5 Turbo was the brainchild of Jean Terramorsi, deputy director of product management at Renault, in charge of small series, who in 1977 imagined a sporting development of the Régie's star car: the Renault 5.
To achieve this, it was no longer simply a question of improving roadholding or engine power, as on the R5 Alpine. Terramorsi felt it was necessary to turn it into a genuine rally car, incorporating the carmaker's flagship technology: turbocharging.
Back in 1972, Bernard Dudot, an engineer at Alpine's Dieppe plant, had paved the way by fitting a turbocharger to a 1600 engine intended for a very light Group 5 berlinetta. The result was difficult to master, but proved formidable in the hands of a driver like Thérier, foreshadowing what was to become the Renault 5 Turbo.
With its turbocharged mid-engine, reinforced chassis, special suspension, bodywork combining steel, polyester and aluminium, and spectacular rear track, the Renault 5 Turbo presented in 1978 left no one indifferent.

Development and involvement in competition
In 1979, the small Renault Sport team, led by François Bernard (chassis engineer) and Michel Têtu, still only had the Group 5 prototype, the famous 'black' R5, assembled from specific Renault and Alpine parts.
It was not until the 400 cars required for Group 4 homologation had been produced, in September 1980, that the car could be entered in major international events.
The Group 4 version produced around 260bhp and was particularly popular with drivers. It was often considered more usable than certain later versions, notably the Tour de Corse, which was considered more difficult.

Jean Ragnotti
Jean Ragnotti shares with Henri Pescarolo the enviable status of one of the most popular French drivers.
Winner of the Tour of Corsica, the Monte Carlo Rally, French superproduction champion, he also distinguished himself in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Beyond his achievements, it is his spectacular style and his personality - made up of simplicity, human warmth and passion - that have made a lasting impression.

The 1982 Ivory Coast Rally
Ragnotti's 1982 programme on the Group 4 R5 Turbo remained relatively focused: Critérium Alpin, Tour de Corse and Rallye de Côte d'Ivoire, also known as Rallye du Bandama.
After winning the Tour de Corse and finishing third in the Critérium Alpin, Renault entered two R5 Turbos for this legendary world championship event.
It was a first for the R5 Turbo on African tracks.
Extensive preparation was required, including lengthy reconnaissance, suspension adjustments, structural reinforcement and the fitting of lower body armour.
The car entered, registration number 80 VS 91, serial number VF1822000C0000009, was put on the road on 8 April 1982, probably very shortly before the event.
Allocated to the Ragnotti / Andrié team, it immediately proved competitive against leading contenders, including Michèle Mouton.
But this rally will also be remembered as one of the most testing, both in sporting and human terms.
The rivalry between Michèle Mouton and Walter Röhrl reached a climax. The latter told the German press: "The Audi Quattro is so superior that, even with a monkey at the wheel, it would win rallies". Michèle Mouton replied ironically: "Walter is a good driver... but the man...".
At the same time, the French driver was going through a dramatic personal ordeal: she learned of the death of her father during the rally, but nevertheless chose to continue the race.
In this particularly tense context, Ragnotti made a remarkable start to the rally.
But Bandama is unforgiving.
After a mechanical problem, a badly anticipated note caused the car to go off the road. The car flew over a bump before landing violently. Broken steering, damaged aluminium roof: retirement was inevitable.

After the race and restoration
The car was repatriated to France and kept by Renault Sport. In 1984, it was offered to Jean Ragnotti by Patrick Landon.
It was then entrusted to the Bozian brothers, Renault Sport's historic tuners.
After many years in their workshops, it was finally restored in the 1990s:
mechanics rebuilt by the Bozians
body repaired by Daniel Loison
paintwork by Del Fiacco
parts supplied by Renault Sport
restoration of the Bandama configuration
The original parts, notably the rally plates and crew sheets, were retained.
The car was presented to Jean Ragnotti in 1995, on the occasion of his 50th birthday, during a meal at Paul Bocuse's house.

Identity and chassis number
After the accident, the original registration number (VF1822000C0000009) was reused by Renault Sport on another car.
When it was handed over to Jean Ragnotti, the car was given a new identity:
serial number: B0000081
first registration: February 1981
registration number: 4534 VD 91
No R5 Turbo ever raced under this name.
As is often the case with factory cars, the competition department had fewer registrations than vehicles, which were transferred as and when required.
It is therefore essential to point out that, despite this administrative peculiarity, the car's historical continuity remains perfectly established.

Technical description
This factory R5 Turbo Group 4 has a number of special features:
Chausson air/water heat exchanger
sensor plate from a modified Porsche 928
specific turbocharger with no conventional wastegate
side exhaust outlet
high-capacity alternator
dry sump with oil pan
dual master cylinder racing crankset
adjustable De Carbon shock absorbers
Renault Sport engine no. 2672
Matter reinforced body

Conclusion
As Gilles Vallerian rightly points out:
"With factory competition cars, it's always tricky to attribute with certainty the races completed and the prizewinners for each car. In fact, official racing cars often don't have a cold-engraved serial number, which is the case with this one. It was not uncommon for the racing departments, unconcerned with the 'road' administrative aspects of factory cars, to hold fewer registration cards than cars! This was confirmed by Patrick Landon. A grey card was used on a car, then after an accident or wear and tear due to racing, it was transferred to a new body that arrived from Matter, and so on.....
It is very difficult to be certain about the actual participation of a racing car in an event. Not so with the R5 Turbo, which has a special and unique history. This Renault 5 turbo Group 4 ex 80 VS 91 is undoubtedly the car that took part in the 1982 Bandama Rally: its historical continuity is certain, it had kept its decoration until its restoration, and moreover it presents a specific assembly of the front and rear bumpers, advanced for the front and moved back for the rear, in order to provide more space for the long-travel ground wheels probably. It is exceptional to have a genuine factory rally car that belonged to one of its drivers, and one that is emblematic of the Renault sport adventure: this is the case of this Group 4 R5 Turbo entered in a World Championship event by one of the most popular French drivers, Jean Ragnotti. It was also restored by Renault sport's in-house engine builders, the Bozian brothers.

Thanks to its unique characteristics, specific configuration and documented history, this Renault 5 Turbo is unquestionably the car entered by Jean Ragnotti in the 1982 Bandama Rally.
It is exceptional to be able to acquire an authentic factory rally car, which belonged to one of its most emblematic drivers, and which has been preserved with such historical consistency. Kept for many years by Ragnotti, then by a collector, it has now belonged to its third owner for around ten years. By virtue of its origin, its racing history and its direct provenance, it provides a rare and particularly coherent record of Renault's official involvement in the World Rally Championship.