RENAULT

The famous 1995 Renault Twingo compact will be taking part in the legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race in 2026

The legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race has seen it all – from Ferraris and Porsches to highly modified prototypes. But in 2026, the starting line will be filled with something completely unexpected: a Renault Twingo.

Yes, that friendly French city car, famous for its friendly design and its complete lack of sportiness, will be transformed into a racing car to take on one of the most extreme challenges in motorsport.

The seemingly insane idea came from brothers Filip and Felix Rauh, two German enthusiasts who decided that, if there were already categories for the Fiat Panda and even the Citroën 2CV, a Twingo also deserved its moment on the track.

Launched in 1992 and produced until 2007, the first Twingo was a huge success in Europe, especially in France, where it became a true people's car for the millennial generation. Small, economical and charming, it never had the slightest sporting pretensions. 

However, the Rauh brothers saw the little car as an opportunity to create the “anti-racing car” and defy all expectations. The idea came to them during a motorcycle trip through France. “We were heading towards the Atlantic coast when we saw a Twingo on the road. That night, at the campsite, we started thinking about what it would take to race one. We thought it would be fun, since it is so iconic and looks like the opposite of a racing car,” explained Filip Rauh. 

Excited, they began researching the Nürburgring 24 Hours regulations while still in the tent. To their surprise, participation was possible, as long as the car was manufactured after 1996 and had a Renault engine. Shortly after, the brothers found the perfect candidate: a 1995 Twingo in excellent condition, with only 67,000 km on the clock. 

The original engine, a 54 hp 1.2, was obviously not going to be suitable for the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, so they swapped it for a 2.0 engine from a Renaultsport Clio 172, which delivers 172 hp from the factory – but will be tuned to reach 200 hp. 

The adaptation is being carried out by Rothe Motorsport, a German workshop specializing in supercars, which took on the challenge without hesitation. “They asked ‘will it fit in the engine bay?’, I said ‘yes’, and they said ‘then we will’”, says Filip. The engine swap required new mounts, shortened half-shafts and a new position for the alternator. In addition, the car received the five-speed manual gearbox from the Clio 172, more powerful brakes and an adjustable suspension from D2 Racing.

As this is a serious race, it will also feature an FIA-approved roll cage, a special fuel tank and a fire extinguisher system.

The brothers initially wanted to keep the Twingo's original appearance, but aerodynamics experts convinced them to add a body kit to improve performance.

The design is still in its early stages, but Filip promises it will be something special. The color of the car will depend on the sponsors – after all, until now, all the costs have been paid for out of their own pockets.

To reduce the team's costs, the Rauhs decided to invest in a pit crew made up of volunteers.

The response was surprising: “We have a long list of people who want to help, and they are not just curious people. They are certified Renault technicians who are offering to work for free just to be part of the project,” said Filip.

The expectation is that the mechanical assembly of the car will be completed by April 2024, followed by the installation of racing seats and belts. But even if the race does not take place until June 2026, time is against the brothers. After all, transforming a Twingo from a road car to an endurance racer is a monumental task.

Nevertheless, Filip has an inspiring message for those who dream of taking a car to the track or completing a seemingly impossible project: “Just start.

Don’t overthink the problems and details at the beginning, otherwise you’ll never start. You’ll always think it’s impossible.”

Whether it’s madness, passion or a stroke of genius, one thing is certain: when the green flag waves at the Nürburgring in 2026, a little Twingo will be on the track, ready to defy all expectations.

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