Automakers enter motorsport for two reasons: to test out their most advanced tech, and to be seen testing them out so they can make commercials about it later.
It’s the reason why we now have the oh-so familiar cliché about how some cars are “racing cars for the road” – that’s just marketing, because nobody in their right minds would actually want to drive such a thing.
Even so, promoting a sporty road car as being fit for the track is a bit more down to earth. Take Renault’s textbook attempt to promote its new warm Megane GT, currently the fastest Megane you can buy. It’s not especially quick compared to the fastest hatchbacks you can get these days, but it does look cool and sporty and features that Holy Grail for offering a racing impression – paddle shifters.
We honestly don’t really care that much about the GT, since we know it’s a just the regular Megane with some trinkets. The Renault Sport version of it will be much more deserving of a racing-inspired presentation, even if it isn’t as hardcore as the model it’s set to replace.