Shelbourne Motors is to become the only Renault dealer in Northern Ireland to offer a dedicated Renaultsport centre after proving it is among the best performing in the whole of the UK Renault network.

The dealership on Tandragee Road is one of just 11 Renault dealers from more than 200 in the UK to have passed the stringent criteria  before being chosen as a specialist of the French brand’s iconic performance arm.

In addition to its wide range of Renault services, the dealership will act as an ambassador for the range providing Portadown motorists with all their Renaultsport needs in one place, in particular unrivalled expert product knowledge.

As well as its own Renaultsport Sales Expert and Renaultsport After-Sales Expert, the dealership will be able to offer customers test-drives in the entire Renaultsport range together with exclusive access to the national Renaultsport events programme which includes inviting customers to organised track days.

The award-winning Renaultsport range boasts three stunning models from the entry-level Twingo Renaultsport 133, the Clio Renaultsport 200 to the flagship New Mégane Renaultsport 250.

All three have been awarded ‘Best Hot Hatch’ in each of their respective price categories at this year’s What Car? Awards with the New Mégane Renaultsport 250 also crowned overall ‘Hot Hatch of the Year 2010’. What’s more, Renaultsport was recently presented with Top Gear Magazine’s prestigious ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ award.

More than 50 Renault dealers from all over the UK applied for the prestigious Renaultsport status which has been introduced to provide Renaultsport customers with an even higher level of service and expertise from their local dealer.

Each dealer was then carefully assessed in key areas such as sales performance, customer satisfaction and product knowledge including sales experts having to pass an online assessment of their Renaultsport know-how on both the current line-up and Renaultsport’s rich heritage of performance vehicles. 

“The standard of applications we received was extremely high,” said Phil York, Marketing Director from Renault UK. “However, Shelbourne Motors was able to demonstrate a proven track record of not only sales performance but something which our Renaultsport customers demand – a passion and knowledge of the brand.”

Alastair Herron, Renaultsport Sales Expert at Shelbourne Motors, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded Renaultsport status and everyone on the team is really looking forward to guiding customers through the range.

He added: “With three models to choose from, the Renaultsport line-up has something for everyone from the entry-level Twingo Renaultsport 133, which recently featured on BBC Top Gear, to the Clio Renaultsport 200 which is based very closely on the highly-successful Clio Cup racer, to the New Mégane Renaultsport 250 which boasts a 0-62mph time of six seconds and a top speed of 156mph!”

For more information on Shelbourne Motors on Tandragee Road, Portadown, call 028 3839 6808. Alternatively visit www.renaultsport.co.uk/roadcars/