Championship-winning Erik Comas Renault 5 Turbo heads to auction with £250,000 estimate

Iconic Auctioneers will be offering Erik Comas' 1987 Renault 5 Turbo 'Superproduction' to auction at next month's Race Retro competition car sale. The title-winning car will carry an estimate of £200,000-£250,000.

Comas' name is usually referred to with regard to Formula 1, where he drove for the Ligier team starting in 1991 before moving to Larrousse for 1993. While he scored only seven points during this time, he's arguably more well-known for being saved by Ayrton Senna after the Frenchman crashed at the Blanchimont corner during the race weekend of the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix. 

But before he debuted in F1, he'd already found success in touring cars. Driving this Renault, chassis Ch 3-86, he won the 1987 championship on 25 October. It's now up for grabs as it becomes one of several cars going to auction. 

Ch 3-86 is one of only three factory 'Superproduction' units out of six Turbos built for French Supertouring in the mid-1980s, and is offered in its period-correct Philips blue and red livery. The cars were built with Matter rollcages and Sonica chassis development - lower ride height, wider track and better suspension. Sodemo Moteurs then produced a 1419cc engine package with a Garrett T4/T3 turbo producing 410 horsepower using 3.2 bar of boost.

Photo by: Iconic Auctioneers

This specific car was serviced in 2020 and has been involved in public demonstration runs. It's still a capable race car.

Comas' Renault sits alongside a genuine 1984 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo, estimated to reach anywhere between £175,000 and £200,000. It's one of 20 works cars and has strong documentation, including a connection to British driver John Price.

Third in this retro line-up is a 1987 DAM 4100 Metro 6R4, estimated at £100,000-£120,000. This car was built by David Appleby and has also received the maintenance it deserved over the years.  

Photo by: Iconic Auctioneers

“Race Retro is the natural home for cars like these," said Rob Hubbard, managing director and principal auctioneer of Iconic Auctioneers. "The Erik Comas Renault 5 Turbo ‘Superproduction’ is a landmark touring car, and to offer it alongside a Maxi Turbo linked to John Price and a Metro 6R4 born from Tony Pond’s era speaks to the depth of this sale. It underlines our role as specialists in competition cars at every level of the market.”

Bidding will run alongside the Race Retro weekend at Stoneleigh Park on 20 February. 

Photo by: Iconic Auctioneers