After an intense phase of development, New Renault Clio Rally is preparing to evolve for the first time in racing conditions. A few weeks before its homologation, the latest addition to the Renault Sport Racing customer competition range will be in action at the Rallye Monte-Carlo (23-26 January). Unveiled as part of the Grand Prix de France de Formula 1 last June, then presented on the occasion of the Rallye Coeur de France in September, New Clio Rally is one of three versions of the fifth generation of Renault Clio intended for the competition.
Like Nouvelles Clio Cup and Clio RX, Nouvelle Clio Rally benefits from all the know-how of customer competition teams from Viry-Châtillon and Dieppe, where the three iterations are being assembled while the homologation process soon coming to an end.
After several months and more than 10,000 kilometers of testing, the new Renault Sport Racing product is about to experience its first dynamic public appearance at the Rallye Monte-Carlo in the hands of Florian Bernardi, winner of the Clio R3T Trophy France in 2018 and fifth in the FIA ERC-3 European Rally Championship in 2019.
New Clio Rally will be the last to appear on the specials, part of the Opener team of the Rallye Monte-Carlo organization as a zero car, just ten minutes before the teams entered in the FIA World Rally Championship. .
Competitors and spectators will therefore have the opportunity to glimpse the potential and efficiency of the model based on Clio RS Line, equipped with a welded steel-hulled monohull, a 4-cylinder 1330 cc TCe engine with 16 valves and Michelin tires.
Available for sale from € 42,000 excl. Tax, New Clio Rally is called upon to meet Rally5 regulations and the latest safety standards established for the category. It will also benefit from dedicated trophies such as the Clio Trophy France, organized over six rounds of the French FFSA Asphalt Rally Championship, and its Iberian and Italian equivalents.
Like the RX and Cup versions, New Clio Rally has enjoyed great commercial success since the opening of orders since the three versions already total more than 140 reservations to date.
“It will be a real baptism in this role at Monte-Carlo,” says Florian Bernardi. “We will have the chance to experience the first appearance of New Renault Clio Rally from the inside and, moreover, on one of the most legendary rallies in the world. After participating in development, it is an honor to represent Renault Sport Racing and an exceptional opportunity to accumulate precious kilometers with this new car. We would like to thank Renault Sport Racing and the Automobile Club de Monaco for their trust. “
“It is with pride that we offer New Clio Rally its first public road race on such a legendary rally , ” added Benoît Nogier, commercial sales director of Renault Sport Racing. “Our links with the Automobile Club de Monaco allow us to provide it with this magnificent field of expression for its first appearance in racing conditions. In the absence of sporting issues, we will take advantage of this to enrich the database of settings which will be made available to all of our customers. We will also be able to help Boris Carminati in his discovery of the event since he will take the start of Monte-Carlo with a Renault Clio R3T by virtue of his title in the Clio R3T Trophy France. So far, New Clio Rally has received a warm welcome by being very effective on all surfaces. It truly has all the assets to become a future reference. “
Technical sheet – New Clio Rally
Frame
Base: Clio RS Line
Body: Welded steel monohull
Train AV: Nickname McPherson
AR train: H train
Suspension: Bos Suspension non-adjustable shock absorber
Engine
Type: Renault 1330 cc TCe – 4 cylinders – 16 valves
Turbocharger: Garrett
Cooling: serial derivative
Supply: Direct injection
Power: 180 horsepower
Torque: 300 Nm
Maximum speed: 6,500 rpm
Electronics: Life Racing
Fuel: SP98 commerce
Dimensions
Length – Width – Height (mm): 4050 – 1988 – 1400
Track AV-AR (mm): 1500 – 1490
Wheelbase (mm): 2579
Curb weight: 1,080 kg (FIA regulations)
Transmission
Sadev 5-speed sequential gearbox + reverse
Floor selector with electric unlocking MAR
ZF type limited slip differential
Sachs clutch
wheels
Wheels: 6×15 ” (earth), 6.5×16 ” (asphalt)
Tires: Michelin
Front brake: according to regulations
Rear brake: according to regulations
Hydraulic hand brake
Other
FT3 FIA approved tank (60 liters)