What's really special, though, is the chassis. The suspension is based on the Cup settings, but the Trophy gets shorter front springs which lower it by a further 10mm, and Speedline Turini wheels which save 1.3kg of unsprung weight per corner. However, it's the dampers that Renault is particularly proud of. Supplied by Sachs Race Engineering, each costs ten times more than a regular damper and comes with a remote reservoir to hold nearly 50 per cent of the oil and gas. The major benefit of the remote reservoir is that enough space is liberated to fit in a thicker and therefore stiffer damper rod. The usual physical elastometric bump-stop is dispensed with, too, allowing the Trophy to run a lower ride height to improve turn-in and reduce understeer, without compromising bump travel. Better traction and less roll and pitch are also promised.

The UK market is the most important for Renaultsport, taking 50 per cent of the Dieppe factory's output. As a result, all 500 examples of the 182 Trophy are coming to our shores, priced at ΂£15,500.