Heel and Toe in a Clio 197

[Mutt]

Hello all,

I've just got back from my third (novice) track day, second one at Snetterton, in my Clio 197. I had a great day, it wasn't even spoilt that much by the Biblical amount of rain mid-afternoon. It made things interesting watching the rear drivers tiptoeing around whilst I'm sat in a friendly front driver lifting off a bit on quiet corners for comedy effect! Still, I'm now seriously addicted.

Anyway, I've got a problem heel and toe-ing in my 197, basically I can't. I'm a size 7/8 so my foot isn't big enough, or the pedals aren't close enough together, to heel and toe by using the inside of my right foot on the brake and rolling the outside of my foot onto the accelerator. I tried this on the sighting laps and I either couldn't brake hard enough or couldn't blip the accelerator enough. I tried other "positions" for my foot, none of which allowed me to either brake or blip enough.

I'm just looking for a bit of insight really. I asked the instructor on the day and he said the pedals probably just aren't set up right. So, as far as I can tell there are two obvious reasons for my complete inability to do it in the 197:
1. The pedals are in the wrong place. How do I modify them?
2. I'm "doing it wrong". The "rollover" technique has worked for me in previous cars, just not in the 197.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

[Avoneer]

Only thing I can think is some after market pedal extension plate things.

You can kick the throttle over to the left a bit then.

Pat...

[iguana]

Never driven a clio 197 but as said above may need a plate on the throttle, I've had to do one on all my cars except BMWs, where for some reason they are spot on to h&T & I've got massive feet, even if they are close often the height dif when braking hard puts a brake pedal too low in relation to the throttle, had to engineer a plate under my Caterhams throttle pedal to be able to do it, other cars just a regular plate from Rally design etc & drilled on is needed.

[rsv gone!]

What is the assistance like on the brakes? On my 172, there was too much assistance for HaT

[John D.]

rsv gone! said:

What is the assistance like on the brakes? On my 172, there was too much assistance for HaT

It is possible to heal and toe in my 172 Cup (think the brakes are slightly different to the standard 172 however). I am very crap at it though! Don't think the pedals are ideal. Perhaps ok when braking hard (i.e. on track) where the brake pedal is depressed more but too awkward in normal driving - that was the opinion expressed by a 182 owner as he took me round Brands, who also raced in the Clio Cup a while ago so a pretty handy wheelman.

Come to think of it I've also witnessed heal and toe in a 197 first hand too! No idea on the drivers shoe size though

[Millga]

I have the exact same problem in my 182 Trophy, just can't get it right, the pedals just feel to far apart!

[Ianeire]

No problem doing it on track in my ph1 172, rarely if ever bother on the road, the brakes are over-servod so need to be going hard to perform it comfortably.

[kusee pee]

Most cars can be heel-and-toed but the technique can vary hugely. Try as many different foot positions as possible. My technique in my E36 is totally different to that in my 911. The further apart the pedals the more you'll have have to angle your foot. I bet you can do it after a bit of experimenting.

If not, there are pedal extensions that you can buy which make it much easier.

[BenElliottRacing]

Pedal extensions or it has been known to tweek the throttle pedal a bit closer to the brake with mole grips!