Until recently, my knowledge of the Estoril Autodrome was limited to… computer games. Furthermore, bearing in mind that I had never even driven on a circuit, when I was told that my “baptism of fire” on the track was going to be done at the controls of a Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy in Estoril, to say I was excited is too simple.
Unfortunately, and proving the rule imposed by Murhpy's law that whatever has to go wrong will go the worst way and at the worst possible time, Saint Peter did not decide to do my bidding and reserved a tremendous rain precisely for the day when my trip to Estoril was reserved.
So, let's recap: inexperienced “driver”, a hot hatch known for liking to loosen the rear, a circuit that was practically unknown and a completely soaked track. At first glance it seems like a recipe for disaster doesn't it? Fortunately, that wasn't quite the case.
First objective: memorize the circuit
As soon as I got to the box where the Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy was, the first thing I heard was: “pay attention to the interior straight, which on the left has a lot of water and makes aquaplanning”. As the other journalists nodded in agreement I found myself thinking "but where is the inner straight?" It was official, I was more lost than James May on the Top Gear track.
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I calmly tried to get to know the layout of the circuit using the only tool I had nearby: the racecourse symbol that appears on the main stand! As quickly as I started using this method I also abandoned it, as I quickly realized that I wasn't going anywhere that way.
Not wanting to give up the opportunity to drive on the same circuit where the famous Ayrton Senna won his first victory in Formula 1 (and curiously under the same weather), I decided to take advantage of a professional colleague who went for a ride in the car driven by a driver and I went for a ride.
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In these two laps I took the opportunity not only to try to memorize the circuit (a task in which I can't say I was completely successful) but also to see how the Mégane RS Trophy behaves when driven in its natural habitat and by someone who calls the Estoril Autodrome your second home.
now it was my turn
Despite having already had the opportunity to drive the Mégane R.S. Trophy in Lisbon's stop-and-go, riding with it on a circuit is the same thing as seeing a lion in the Zoo and in the savannah. The animal is the same, however its behavior changes overnight.
However, if in its natural habitat the lion is more dangerous, exactly the opposite happens with the Megane. The driving that in suburban traffic had proved to be heavy, on a circuit reveals the right weight to offer confidence to a newcomer like me and the clutch that I had considered abrupt, proves to be perfect for more hasty relationship changes.
So, what I can tell you about the Mégane R.S. Trophy on track is that the driver's limits appear earlier than the car's. Despite the tendency to loosen the rear, the reactions are easily controllable, with the Mégane revealing behavior more effective than fun, even under a deluge, something to which the steerable rear axle contributes.
The curved insertion offers confidence and the brakes are more than capable of withstanding abuse without fatigue. As for the engine, it is progressive to increase in regime and its 300 hp offer benefits that are better confined to circuits (or deserted roads without radars). The exhaust, on the other hand, makes you want to keep accelerating just to hear it.
At the end of my two (short) rides at the controls of the Mégane R.S. Trophy and at the end of my debut on an asphalt that I consider “sacred ground”, the two conclusions I reached were simple. The first was that the Mégane R.S. Trophy feels much better on track than on public roads. The second was: I have to go back to Estoril!