The car is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine that develops 194bhp at 7,250rpm. It’s connected to a six-speed manual gearbox, and Renaultsport’s engineers have given the car a complete mechanical makeover, knocking 7mm off the donor 197 car’s ride height and putting stiffer springs at all four corners, amongst other things.

It’s a stunning drive, with the engine deserving special mention for the wide and highly usable powerband. It’s immediately responsive right from the lower end of its operating range, and will race enthusiastically up the revs, getting stronger all the way. It just doesn’t run out of puff, even with the tachometer needle sitting right on the redline.

The whole setup is very communicative and the quicker you go the better the car starts to feel. It isn’t just fast in a straight line either. It’s not an easy car to unsettle through the twisty bits, and it takes a lot to push it over its limits. Any time the tyres’ traction is exceeded it slides progressively rather than dumping away all of its grip suddenly.

A light, progressive clutch action makes it easy in urban traffic too, though the gearshift action could do with a little more solidity.

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