Renault sport Clio 172 sensible track car project

[sbridgey]

I started off with a completely standard 172.


IMG_0026 by sbridgey, on Flickr

It needed a cambelt change so for peace of mind I got that done immediately

Then the mods started happening. Just basic appearance mods to begin with.

Skoda Fabia VRS splitter, smaller front plate and a 172 cup spoiler.


IMG_0184 by sbridgey, on Flickr


IMG_0175 by sbridgey, on Flickr

It was a time for its first trackday.


IMG_2338 by sbridgey, on Flickr

I was honestly shocked with how much grip it had, it was absolutely mental, the day was slightly tainted with the crappy brembo oem brake pads being no use on track.

It was time for the performance upgrades, I started with the brakes, the correct place to start.

I purchased-
Brembo HC Discs
Ferodo DS2500 pads
Braided lines
Carbon Lorraine racing brake fluid

This made the car stop so much better

I tested it all out on track and it was superb, no hint of brake fade at all.


_DSC8828 copy by sbridgey, on Flickr

I decided I needed some 15's so i got these


615616_10151057942371439_1597600755_o by sbridgey, on Flickr

they allowed me to do this





I had managed to destroy the rear brakes and they looked like this


IMAG0248 by sbridgey, on Flickr


IMAG0250 by sbridgey, on Flickr

I put mintex discs on with some cheap apec pads as the rear brakes really do very little on these cars.

I found that I had too much understeer so to try and reduce it I fitted a Whiteline Rear ARB, and Eibach camber bolts.


IMAG0253 by sbridgey, on Flickr


IMAG0251 by sbridgey, on Flickr

Camber is set to -2.4 degrees with 5 mins of toe out, this has made a already great handling car so much better.

I also managed to pick up some new wheels. Team Dynamics pro race 1.2's with almost new federal RSR's on.


IMAG0263 by sbridgey, on Flickr

This stepped the on track handling up another level and it as able to tussle with faster cars, i had a good play with a 350z at outlon park and I was surprised how evenly we were matched he was faster on the straights but through the corners I closed right up on him.

In doing this I cooked the brakes and even though there was no fade there was a lot of juddering so I had to take it easy once the brakes were hot and give them plenty of chance to cool.


IMAG0243 by sbridgey, on Flickr

When I got home i found the discs looking like this.


IMAG0247 by sbridgey, on Flickr

Covered in heat spots, not too good really, time for a brake pad upgrade I think as the DS2500's obviously cant cope any more, shame as I really am happy with there stopping power and lack of fade.

I found this video of my car from my last trackday at oulton park.

I am in it from 1.46 onwards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...

[wackojacko]

Awesome, go for some Brembo HC discs.

Loads of people use HC discs and DS2500's on Clio to great effect. Yours disc is shagged because OEM discs can't handle the heat let alone when attacked with aggressive pads.

[sbridgey]

I am running Brembo HC discs.

[sbridgey]

Today on the way home from work this happened.


something missing? by sbridgey, on Flickr


broken? by sbridgey, on Flickr

Luckily i was going to change it at the weekend anyway with a quieter stealth system I have in my bedroom.