Renaultsport rules Spa: PH Spa Liveblog
We thought we were doing a track day, the French seemed to think it was a de facto Clio Cup race
Lots of running round and not so much blogging yesterday but here's a round-up, some of which will be explored in more depth in standalone stories to come.
Today was Spa track day part II, this time with Renaultsport rather than Gran Turismo and a chance for Danny's PH Fleet Clio 200 to step up to the plate and prove its worth. It's certainly got a tough crowd to please, the paddock at Spa filled to bursting with Clios and Meganes of all flavours. Mainly recent 200s and 250/265s respectively but a few older ones and a healthy contingent of R26.Rs too.
The Euro boys are obviously just as passionate about their hot hatches as the 20 or so Brits who made the trip over. And pretty punchy on track. There was a briefing but it seemed like a few reckoned they'd entered a Clio Cup race, not joined a sociable track day. I'm all for a bit of friendly rivalry but if you've ever seen Clio racing you'll know it makes BTCC look like a gentlemanly contest. Taking to the rumble strips the 'wrong' side of the kerbing to overtake on Eau Rouge and finishing the move with all four wheels on the grass? All part and parcel of the Continental track day crowd it seems. And let's just say I had a squeaky cheeked lesson in how much better the brakes are on a Cup car when he braked rather earlier than I'd expected as we chased him into the chicane after Blanchimont.
I'll let Danny talk in more detail about the car when he comes to write up his next Fleet report but the comparisons with the normally aspirated 200s and 197s we were scrapping with was very interesting. Up until such point as I picked up a flat, a line through Stavelot inspired by some of our Gallic cousins seemingly slicing the sidewall. Thankfully Renault had a spare knocking about and a local tyre fitter did the honours in double quick time - tip of the hat to Renault PR man Jeremy for making that all happen.
Leaving Danny to it I headed back out in the Lotus to explore the route of the old Spa road circuit from the point where the 'new' track dives down the hill after Les Combes. More on this in due course but it was both emotive and chilling in equal measure knowing some of the tragedies that occurred here over the years.
After all that there was just the schlep back to Eurotunnel and home. And aside from a bit of wind noise the Elise is a surprisingly comfy cruiser, those seats impressively comfy despite their rather brutal appearance. I've done a couple of similar trips in Elises and Exiges before and every time come home with renewed enthusiasm for them. This one was no different and it looks fab outside in the morning sunshine, streaked in rubber, dead flies and brake dust. Proper little car that!
Dan
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For archived previous instalments to the liveblog click here.
Not sure why being in before a title is interesting to anyone /curmudgeon mode.
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