Miguel Sánchez
Soon we will not only be waiting to fulfill the ephemeral but determined New Year's resolutions. We will also closely follow the day to day of one of the toughest races in the entire automotive scene: the Dakar. A test that now also has a category of classics. A magnificent initiative. Since, having been held since 1978, the Dakar features some of the most spectacular raid mounts of all time. In that sense, we are not only talking about vehicles as performance as the truck DAF Two-headed. But especially of those capable of having reached the top even starting from bases for nothing destined to the sands of the desert.
An achievement of which the Renault R20 can take heart. The saloon that replaced the R1975 in 16 in the wake of conceiving the third volume with a fifth door with a smooth and long drop integrating the rear window. A model decidedly designed to be used quietly on family trips without a hint of sportiness. Even less off-road skills. It is therefore a huge surprise to see him at the top of the 1982 Dakar. A very tough test held from January 1 to 20 of that year over more than 10.000 kilometers passing through France, Algeria, Mali and Senegal.
Territories that served as a screen for the 233 registered cars. Of which only 94 managed to complete the race reaching the finish line in Dakar. Fact that verifies the toughness of any African competition played on gravel as it could be seen before the Dakar in the Côte-Côte. In fact, the edition of the latter held in 1977 was also won by a Renault family model adapted to 4 × 4. Neither more nor less than a R12 Sinpar with station wagon body. Which showed that, not having been born for the competition, the touring cars of the diamond brand enjoyed an obvious advantage for this type of raid. Its proven and robust reliability.
RENAULT R20 DAKAR. THE VICTORY OF EXPERTISE
When thinking of an essential brand for sports cars, we usually look at Ferrari, Aston Martin or Alfa Romeo. However, the truth is that Renault has many arguments to be among them. Obviously the cars of this brand do not have exclusivity on their part due to the large series production. But nevertheless, Few companies can boast alongside Renault of having been at the top of F1, rallying, Le Mans and the Dakar. All this incorporating to its credit the work of preparers such as Gordini and Alpine, being also a leader in the development of technologies such as the turbocharger.
Under these coordinates, the victory of the Renault R20 Dakar in 1982 should not be so impressive. A fact before which many will try to reduce value by pointing out that it is not a production car. Which is true. As true as that all the components of this unit come from different models marketed in large series by Renault at that time. Leaving as the only exceptions some body panels made of aluminum to reduce weight.
And, of course, the 4 × 4 traction which, however, is still a simple system already adapted by the Sinpar company to Renault passenger cars before being absorbed by it in 1975. In this way, the Renault R20 Dakar is not like one of those rally cars whose only similarities with the series model are some features in the bodywork and share the same name for publicity reasons.
There were even elements that remained practically unchanged. Like the front suspension or the gearbox. Only modified to be integrated into an all-wheel drive system. In fact, it is striking to see how In the suspension section, many elements were replaced not by complex racing parts but by elements taken from a Renault Traffic. Just launched on the market in 1981. From which the leaf springs and the rigid axle for the rear suspension were extracted.
TURBO ENGINE FROM AN R18
Replacing the R12, in 1978 the R18 saw the light as a mid-size saloon with which to win the favor of the new middle classes in Europe and Latin America. However, despite his family vocation This model benefited in the eighties from the benefits of the turbocharger. The undisputed hallmark of the rhombus brand during that decade, making it possible to boost this model up to 125CV in the 1982 version. In any case, the R18 had already included a turbo option in its range since 1980.
The one chosen to equip the Renault R20 Dakar. Riding a 1-liter block boosted to 5CV at 133 rpm and a torque of 5.000 Nm. Improvements in part made to a new exhaust system that represents one of the most notable features on this unit. Its tube snaking from the hood to the roof through the left pillar of the windshield, which looks like an air intake for the carburetor but is actually the exhaust of combustion gases.
Another of the peculiarities of this mount. Built with the official support of the brand to lead brothers Claude and Bernard Marreau to victory after two previous attempts on the back of R4 4 × 4 Sinpar units. One of them equipped with an R5 Turbo engine. All of them witness to the ingenuity of a time when the Dakar lived through epic episodes for drivers but also for mechanics and engineers. Being able to reach the top equipped only with the expertise to build a great car from standard elements.
Photographs: Renault Classic
