Renault Maxi 5 Turbo Tour de France Auto 1985

The Renault 5 Maxi Turbo is a mythical car that shone brightly in the hands of the expert pilot Jean Ragnotti. The French pilot, after having made his mark in the Tour de Corse, was victorious many a time with the Maxi. In a car marked with the iconic red, white and blue Philips livery, he beat the Belgians on their home turf at the 24 Hours of Ypres before once again coming out on top in the Tour de France Auto! Naturally, the Paris to Nice run was highly anticipated for these cars. After Didier Auriol forfeited his spot, Jean Ragnotti was the only hope for the French brand. On the 29th September 1985, he brought it home in Nice. In doing so, Jean Ragnotti won for a second consecutive time this particular run, and it would be his last major victory in the R5 Maxi Turbo that he would exchange in 1986 for the Renault 11 Turbo.