The 5 Turbo was a shock to the world when it debuted as Renault’s challenge to the exotic rally machinery fielded by Lancia. Taking a different tack entirely from the Ferrari-powered, wild-looking Stratos, Renault looked through its stable of cars and picked out one of the smallest and least powerful, the 5 supermini. A miniature skunkworks team of Renault-Alpine engineers oversaw the transformation from ultra-compact urban car to a mid-engined, box-flared rally monster. Those flares (and other external styling clues) were the work of Marcello Gandini, better known for his masterpiece, the Lamborghini Countach LP400. Sitting back where the passenger seats used to be is a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder with nearly double its original output — 155 horsepower in street trim, and far more on the rally courses of Europe. Considering its humble roots, the little Renault did very well, at least until Audi’s Quattro burst onto the scene and made everything else virtually obsolete. Still, there’s no denying the cheeky charm of the Renault 5 Turbo, which is a rewarding driver and a reminder of how clever engineering can solve complex problems.

Renault virtually invented the mid-engined hatchback layout way back in 1980 with the Renault 5 Turbo, ripping out the rear seats and replacing it with a turbocharged engine and rear-wheel drive. The 5’s successor, the Clio, takes the formula to the next step by installing a torque-happy 3-liter V6 pulled from the large Laguna sedan. It’s not hard to see how a tiny car, with a very large engine in the middle, would be terribly quick, but it’s less easy to see how such a mash-up might work together. In summary, very well. The short wheelbase, good weight distribution, and engineering help courtesy of Tom Walkinshaw Racing, the Clio V6 manages to be very responsive and very quick. The car’s small faults—a gargantuan turning radius, for one, or the limited cargo capacity due to the massive engine where the groceries normally go—are inconsequential on the track, so in that respect the car is wonderful for track-day superstars. Whether it’s the ability of the Clio V6 to hunker down and power through turns, or simply the soundtrack provided by a sweet V6 behind your head, the Clio V6 is a satisfying performer.

Quintessentially French, the Renault Megane RS250 combines a serious helping of Renaultsport’s tuning expertise with the already stylish Megane. The blacked-out grille is the first clue this is not a run-of-the-mill Renault, and if you weren’t convinced right away you could peer at the red-painted brake calipers or the bright-yellow faced tachometer for further confirmation. A twin-scroll turbocharger boosts output to a remarkable 250 horsepower, considering that the engine is only 2 liters. So it’s perhaps no surprise that this fast Megane gets out of its own way with an emphatic bark from the center-exit sport exhaust. The RS250’s stiffened sport suspension also hunches the hatch down low over larger alloy wheels, improving the stance and the cornering at the same time. That’s not just lip service—the RS250 has some serious moves, helped in part by a limited-slip differential and an electrically assisted variable power steering system to keep the front wheels from churning under the ample torque.

Driven by Nicolas Prost and Sébastien Buemi. Co-founder Alain Prost needs no introduction as one of the winningest Formula One drivers in history. He has paired himself with Jean-Paul Driot founder of top single-seater team owner Dams. The team is based just outside Le Mans, France.