Facinating find: Renault Clio Cup vs Audi R8 V10
Discussion
Anyone read the new evo this month where they compare the Renault racing Clio Cup to the Audi R8 v10? The Renault really dominates it. I did and it's very interesting. Not unlike a test in evo a few years back where they pitting an older Impreza WRC car against the latest crop of mid-engine wonder-cars only to see them lose to the WRC car easily.
I really don't think enough is said about the inherent supercar crushing ability of very well modded hatches or similar small front engine sedans. There is a myth perpetuated by the magazines and on-line that a mid-engine car is so much better, but really they can often be worse. I think there is a need to romance the mid-rear engine cars because they are usually very pretty and sleek and low and unique to look at. I'd prefer a small q-car Clio Cup any day of the decade. martin
I really don't think enough is said about the inherent supercar crushing ability of very well modded hatches or similar small front engine sedans. There is a myth perpetuated by the magazines and on-line that a mid-engine car is so much better, but really they can often be worse. I think there is a need to romance the mid-rear engine cars because they are usually very pretty and sleek and low and unique to look at. I'd prefer a small q-car Clio Cup any day of the decade. martin
would disagree about road use as the WRC car they compared to the exotics a while back was found to be great in all road conditions. Maybe that's the four wheel drive helping but I think this Clio could easily be engineered to be fine for road use and yes still blow the lids off the new generation uber cars we read too much about. martin
scherzkeks said:
It does not surprise me at all. Engineering compromise is a topic that is largely overlooked/disregarded on this forum. There are so many factors that play into whether a car is fast on the track that generalization regarding chassis/drive config., etc., really doesn't amt. to much.
On the same subject but stretching into the racing realm, take a look at the TTRS "race car" -- a tuned TTRS running in FWD mode (380 hp). In the dry, the car comes within 6 seconds of the 570 hp V10 R8 LMS Ultra race car on the 15.2-mile extended VLN 'Ring circuit, and in the wet it is faster than the R8. It is also much more stable and predictable in the handling dept. If the cars were more equally balanced for weight and power, the results would be even more interesting.
Well said. I know there was recently a thread about people's issues with Auto magazine journalism over the years, and I would have to say that top of my list would be what we speak here about...As you (Scherzkeks) point out.."Engineering compromise is a topic that is largely overlooked/disregarded on this forum."..this is as well hugely omitted from the press. To the point I would argue that we have been sold a bill of goods that while hot hatches are great if you have money and really want the best its got to be the big name "supercars" or nothing. One day it may be possible to for more people with some decent money to spend that they can get something at least as good and possibly better by building their cars with rally and other motorsport professionals who really know there stuff. martinOn the same subject but stretching into the racing realm, take a look at the TTRS "race car" -- a tuned TTRS running in FWD mode (380 hp). In the dry, the car comes within 6 seconds of the 570 hp V10 R8 LMS Ultra race car on the 15.2-mile extended VLN 'Ring circuit, and in the wet it is faster than the R8. It is also much more stable and predictable in the handling dept. If the cars were more equally balanced for weight and power, the results would be even more interesting.
ORD said:
I don't think people who buy supercar care that a race prepared hatch is faster around a given track. Buying a Ferrari isn't about being the fastest car on a track.
If you gave me £100k to buy the fastest possible car, of course I'd go nowhere near a supercar, but I'd much rather have a V10 R8 than any TT!
I would much much rather drive one of these impreza's (as driven here by Harris http://www.evo.co.uk/videos/planetevovideos/251596... ) than ANY audi. I'd just have it painted a normal color and put a radio in- ultimate q car. Why cooler and way more exciting to drive IMHO. martin If you gave me £100k to buy the fastest possible car, of course I'd go nowhere near a supercar, but I'd much rather have a V10 R8 than any TT!
GrumpyTwig said:
Have been in one of the new Clio cup cars as a passenger, the speed they carry around a corner is somewhat mind bending (or caving when my head hit the cage at the first corner, lucky I had a helmet) for a hatchback.
Video was a good watch but given the choice I'd go for a drive in the Clio over the R8.
Just to be clear the video was of Harris driving a 97' WRC spec Impreza. martinVideo was a good watch but given the choice I'd go for a drive in the Clio over the R8.
GrumpyTwig said:
Huh? If I scroll up the topic title is "Facinating find: Renault Clio Cup vs Audi R8 V10" or am I in a different dimension?
The article has an accompanying video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJkPqGooZKA
I am equating all small front engine cars that are Hatch size, so just to put another example into the mix I showed an older video of evo magazines then writer Harris driving another supercar hatch/sedan the 97' WRC Impreza. My point is that many of these small front engine cars, with and without 4WD when upgraded (the for example Porsche upgrades their cars) can become better than the "supercars" we constantly hear about in the press. martinThe article has an accompanying video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJkPqGooZKA
DanielSan said:
I think the Clio/R8 test shows one very simple fact to be honest. Exactly how much gripper slicks are than road tyres and how big a difference they make to lap times.
Cars like the Impreza WRC don't use slicks. And as Evo showed when they took this Impreza to wales for a road test comparison with all the usual suspects, it blew them all out of the water in every parameter save the ugly cabin and ugly bits to look at....so back to my point...makers can produce even supercars that are front engine and small and more upright, easier to see out of and just a more useable package than mid-engine ones. I think these sorts of cars would be a hit with the rich as long as they were built well, looked really nice and had interiors made of nice materials. This is the over all point I was trying to make. martinEdited by martin elaman on Thursday 24th July 23:32
I'm not obviously going to argue this with folks who haven't built or driven such things; for that we should have the rally builders come on here and explain, Dan Trent over to you on that... But I will leave you with Harris's own Porsche which is built by a leading rally expert - its all doable
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2HjaHS51hk of course it does not pay to showcase cars like this when your a journalist who must extol the virtues of the new all day- so obviously while Harris said it was the best he'd driven he never dared compare it to anything on camera. Smart business man that Harris. If Porsche were to come out with such a hand-made limited addition special as this today "collectors" would gobble them up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2HjaHS51hk of course it does not pay to showcase cars like this when your a journalist who must extol the virtues of the new all day- so obviously while Harris said it was the best he'd driven he never dared compare it to anything on camera. Smart business man that Harris. If Porsche were to come out with such a hand-made limited addition special as this today "collectors" would gobble them up.
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