Renaultsport really knows how to push the boundaries – just look at its decision to adopt incredibly expensive remote-reservoir Sachs dampers for the Clio Trophy, or its ongoing development of the Mégane, right up to the uncompromising, limited slip diff-equipped R26. But there’s plenty more to come, possibly even rear-wheel drive…

Rémi Deconinck (image), directeur général of Renault Sport Technologies, is in good spirits. And having walked past the bubble-arched little Renaultsport Twingo 133 before my interview slot I can see why. It’s a great advert for Renaultsport and, we hope, a new hero in the making – light, agile and powered by a zingy normally aspirated engine.

The first Twingo 133s will be pinging around the UK countryside from September, priced at around £12,000.