The Future
While the third-generation Clio will no longer be used in the Clio Cup, it is not the end for the model.
The Michelin Clio Cup Series was introduced this year to become the new club-level home for the cars into next season and beyond, in a similar fashion to how the Protyre Formula Renault Championship utilises the older Formula Renault chassis.
For the Clio Cup meanwhile, there are high hopes for the new fourth-generation Clio racer, which has been making its racing debut this season in the Eurocup Clio Championship.
The racer, based on the Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo EDC, uses a 1.6 litre turbo-charged powerplant that produces 217bhp, with one big change from its predecessor being the introduction of a sequential paddleshift gearbox.
When the car made its UK track debut in April this year, it lapped the Snetterton 300 circuit in 2m 07.001s in the hands of Files, 2.5 seconds quicker than his own pole time in the current car later in the year.
Therefore there’s little doubt that the characteristically fast, action-packed Clio Cup racing is sure to continue into next season and beyond with the new car – spawning many more BTCC stars of the future in the process.
(Photo Credit: Renaultsport)
