The Championship/car spec

One of the most popular and storied championships in the history of one-make racing in the UK, the ELF Renault Clio Cup has gone from strength to strength over the years.

With the introduction of the brand new Clio Renaultsport 197 race car for the 2007 season, 40 drivers registered for the championship and the action was more hotly-contested than ever as the series entered a new era.

In its position as a key rung on the ladder towards a professional racing career in the world of touring cars, GT and sportscar racing, the Clio Cup is a world-renowned proving ground for the saloon car stars of the future.

The championship first came into being in 1990 with a race-going version of the original phase one Clio and having immediately proven its popularity with drivers, teams, spectators and sponsors alike, the series quickly grew.

Scores of former Clio Cup competitors have gone on to carve out successful careers, including World Touring Car Championship front-runner Robert Huff, British Touring Car Championship competitor Matt Allison and FIA GT racer Andrew Kirkaldy.

More recently, the series has proven its worth as a direct route into the BTCC with Tom Onslow-Cole winning the 2006 ELF Renault Clio Cup title before going on to contest the 2007 BTCC with Vauxhall.

This year, 2005 Clio Cup Champion Jonathan Adam has also managed to make the step-up to the BTCC with the Airwaves Motorbase BMW squad.

Not only does Clio Cup offer a perfect grounding for talented young racers and an arena in which to prove their worth against some of the best saloon car drivers around, the series is also a sponsors dream with first-class television coverage, the closest racing around and a glamorous environment in which to entertain guests.

Racing throughout the year at some of the UK’s best circuits, including Donington Park, Rockingham, Oulton Park and Silverstone, the Clio Cup is one of the key support categories on the BTCC calendar.

In addition, the blue riband event for the Clio Cup each year is as support to the British round of the World Series by Renault. Over the past two years, the event has been the third biggest car racing meeting in the country behind only the British Grand Prix and Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Chassis

Steel monocoque, Matter bolted roll cage;

Aerodynamic features - Diffuser and rear spoiler

Engine

Layout: Front transversally mounted

Type: Renault F4R RS – four cylinder – 16 valve – 1,998cc

Power supply ignition: Magnetti-Marelli built-in management system

Max power: 151kW (205bhp) @ 7,300rpm

Max torque: 223Nm (22.7m.kg) @ 5,550rpm

Max engine speed: 7,500rpm

Transmission 

Type: Mechanical

Gearbox: Sadev six-speed sequential + reverse gear

Gearshift: Steering-wheel mounted mechanical control

Wheels and Tyres

Speedline 8" x 17" one-piece aluminium/magnesium alloy wheels

Michelin 20/62-17, S9B (slick) and P2C (wet)