AFTER SAINZ

One of Sainz' two Maxis was then assigned to Guillermo Barreras, an official FASA Renault rallycross driver. The Maxi was equipped with a front drive axle to convert it to four-wheel drive ... With the car still registered VA 4650 M, Barreras finished second in the Spanish Gravel Rally Championship in 1988 and fourth in 1989. After restoring the car completely in 2WD configuration and Sainz' colours, he sold it to Olivier Quesnel in July 1990, as can be seen from the correspondence on file.
The second Maxi was sold to Alvarez Santiago in the Canaries, who also converted it to four-wheel drive for use on gravel. It too was restored in 2WD spec, in FASA Renault's colours. It was offered for sale a few years ago and is still in Spain.
The mechanic sent by Patrick Landon to help FASA was Christian Pouchelon, a member of Renault's motorsport team since the 1970s! He shared with us his memories and confirmed some aspects of the history of Sainz' Maxis. In particular, he authenticated this Maxi as the Group B car which he supported for Renault Sport and expressed his conviction that it was the car Sainz used at the end of the 1986 season. We cannot state categorically whether the car from the museum in Lohéac is the one registered as a prototype or on temporary plates, but the fact that the number PR8220E00001 is stamped on its chassis and that the car was sold by Barreras to Quesnel implies that it is in all likelihood the car registered as a prototype as VA 4650 M and not the car only registered on temporary plates.
Photocopies of the Spanish prototype registration document are provided with the car: the prototype chassis number PR 8220E00001 shown on it is the one stamped on the right rear suspension turret of the car from the Manoir de l'Automobile.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CARLOS SAINZ R5 MAXI TURBO FROM THE LOHÉAC MUSEUM

Some specific features may be noted compared with a Group 4 or "Tour de Corse" car:

- Reinforced bodyshell unique to the Maxi with aluminium roof and doors, Kevlar bonnet and wings, specific rear bodywork to improve flow to the large air filter and increase downforce, and eight lights at the front
- SECAN air-to-water intercooler positioned above the gearbox
- Injection of water into the intake manifold (F1 technology)
- Specific type of turbocharger installed to the right of the engine bay, with no waste gate (the valve to release excess pressure), this being located directly on the exhaust manifold (specific to the Maxi)
- Exhaust tailpipe in front of the right rear wheel
- Fuel filler cap in the left wing
- Strengthened magnesium gearbox with specific ratios and limited-slip differential
- Dry-sump lubrication with sump to the right and specific valve timing cover with chain-driven oil pump
- Specific pedal set with dual master cylinders as fitted to single-seat racing cars
- Ventilated brakes all-round with four-piston callipers
- Bilstein shock absorbers, suspension wishbones front and rear and hub carriers, all specific to the Maxi
- 11.5in wheels at the back (TDC: 10in) and 8in at the front (TDC: 7in)
- Cut-out switch specific to the Renault Sport R5 Turbos, exactly as fitted to the works Alpine berlinettes from 1972 to 1976!
- Windscreen wipers with new mechanism by Marchal fitted differently to the other standard or competition R5 Turbos. It should be noted that not all Maxis had this mechanism, but Sainz' car does
- Vent on the roof to supply fresh air to the crew: this appeared on the Rally Islas Canarias after Renault Sport had it approved by the FIA.
Exceptional rally cars, Maxi 5 Turbos rarely come up for sale. This is the official car of Renault Spain and was driven by Carlos Sainz, who, it should not be forgotten, was twice World Rally Champion with Toyota in 1990 and 1992 and runner-up on four occasions ... This impressive looking Group B car was restored by its second driver, Guillermo Barreras, at the end of his career in rallycross in 1989, starting from a bare shell and using original parts from the period. The Renault Sport mechanic Christian Pouchelon has confirmed that the car is in its original specification; it is a spectacular car with which to take part in historic motorsport events. In addition, this car's continuous history is exceptional and rare for a vehicle of this kind (FASA Renault for Sainz, the official Renault driver Barreras, the museum at Lohéac).