1972. Renault releases a brand new model called "5" (mythic!).

1976. Jean Terramorsi, Renault Vice-director of Production, initially imagines a racing car derived from a small dimensions production-model car, technically not much complex, cheap, and well weight balanced. It should be produced on at least 1000 units to homologate it for the Group 3 and cost not more than 70.000 francs. There are some basic specifications for this car, to compete with other other car factories and to replace R8 Gordini and R12 Gordini, focusing on these main features (for the project cars): at least 150 HP of engine power, 5 speeds gear-box, 200 Km/h top speed and weight less than 950Kg.

Spring 1977. At Renault Sport factory of Dieppe, organized to prepare Le Mans competition cars, started the work on a prototype named 822.01. Front suspensions are derived from Renault 5 Group 2 Rally, rear suspensions from the Alpine A310 instead. Engine should be the Renault 30 2600cc V6: too heavy (minimum car weight 945Kg); or alternatively the 2000cc Douvrin: too long to fit into this car. As the last choose remains the Gordini 1397cc (fitted on Renault 5 Alpine and Alpine Turbo), that decreases weight down to 810Kg, and with the supercharged coefficient it enters in the 2000cc class.

July 1977. Coachwork has been completed.

9th March, 1978. Gerard Larrousse and Michel Tetu are the first people that made tests on this prototype near Dieppe: they return with a long list of lacks and defects to resolve. Alain Serpaggi, ex Formula 3 driver, after a long work of 3 days together with mechanicians, does the 2nd test in front of the excited Renault Sport Management Team, that haven't ever give up believing on this project.

23rd November, 1978. At Ledenon, Guy Frequelin and Gerard Larrousse makes tests about various settings then Renault decides to show the car to press at Paul Ricard circuit. Tuning work continues on prototype number 822.02 focusing on suspensions. Prototype number 822.03 will be assemblied with Group 4 specifications to take part at "Giro d'Italia del 1979".

1978. M. Bernard Vernier, Renault chief executive, holds a press conference at Motor Show of Paris. Renault 5 Turbo red prototype makes pressmen excited and interested, even if it still needs final touches.

20th May, 1980. Renault 5 Turbo series production officially starts with the preparation of 5 exemplaries.

1st July, 1980. Renault 5 Turbo is launched on French market, with capacity of output of 5 exemplaries per day, assemblied on the A310 production chain at this Alpine factory.

1980. Renault 5 Turbo appears on German market and in November on Italian market too, then during 1981 on Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland too. Subscription of this car in Group 4 for the competitions, needs the homologation of 400 exemplaries, already ordered before the official production starts.