2010 Renault Laguna GT Becomes Safety Car

The new version of the Renault Laguna has been named official safety car for three of the Renault Sport UK championships. The coupe will be seen on the tarmac in safety car guise at the ELF Renault Clio Cup and the Michelin Formula Renault UK Championships - part of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and, for the first time, at the Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship (a feeder for the national-level Formula Renault UK Championship).

The UK based branch of Renault has chosen a Laguna Coupe GT for the task. This particular version is powered by a 2.0l turbocharged engine, developing 205 horsepower. It is paired with a six speed manual transmission and benefits from Renault's 4Control Chassis - a four-wheel steering system developed with Renaultsport to offer improved maneuverability, sharpened dynamic response and steering precision. The car is capable of reaching 100km/hour in 7.8 seconds and tops at a speed of 144 mph (232 km/hour).

“The role of the Safety Car is extremely important in all of our championships and requires a car that can safely lead a field of more than 25 drivers and do so at high speed,” Simon North, Championship Manager for all three series said in a release.

The Laguna GT will be driven by Scott Stringfellow and Peter Harris (the two official Safety Car personnel at all BTCC events). The role of the safety car is to ensure the safety of the drivers and allow the race to continue following a track incident, playing the same role as every safety car in competitions around the world.