Renault Clio V6
Discussion
I had this car for a "TrakZone" track day at Donington on 30th May 2005.
First of all, if I gave anyone following a fright - apologies!
After some years away from the circuit (racing everything from minis to FF2000), it may seem a strange choice to pick the Clio, but, hell it looks and sounds great! And we're here for fun, right?
I choose the "experienced" group which meant that I had all the quickest machinery to learn the car amongst. On top of that it had rained heavily before the 9am start! I remembered Donington to be tricky when damp.
Well, out we go, and I'm not one to pussy foot, so after one lap I decided to start finding the limits. The Clio has an initial understeering tendency which is rapidly changed when you apply the power. I must admit that because it sounds so much like a race car, which it is not,
I found myself treating it as such. This is not the best way forwards. It has plenty of mid range torque and this is where the best engine response is to be found: this is very important, because it is key to be able to smooth out the transition from understeer to oversteeer. If you don't you will be forever "threepenny bitting" your way round the corners.
As I started to push the car in the second session I began to think I had it mostly under control in the "dry line" conditions. However, just like a computer game where you have got yourself up to level 8 - you get shot! In this case I spun it (¾ way around Coppice before coming onto the straight) Of course this was not helped by getting off the dry line! Unfortunately, myself and passenger had a superb view of a very tidy (and quick) 944 Turbo and a Caterham bearing down on us (hoping to overtake me on the straight). Removing the (hopeless) opposite-lock I completed the 360 deg spin and continued by selecting second. Phew! that happened pretty damn quick.
By the third session it was pretty dry and we started to get a lot quicker. It was clear that I could overtake most things, sometimes even between Macleans and Coppice if the other guy was alert. For the quick Caterhams I was a thorn. Problem you will know about: very quick car round corners can only overtake slower car on the straight on track days (except for one clown!) so I'd pull over on any straight. However, he didn't have the grunt to draw level and ended up following me round lap after lap. I can only imagine he (and the 944 turbo which had fantastic brakes, more bhp and [i]predictable[/i] handling) enjoyed the view of me wrestling with "the beast"! Dont let me put you off though - its massive fun and a high grin factor.
I did get smoother as I got to know the car and adapt to its eccentric character. I forgot, you drive round the problems on track day cars - not try and sort them out! Whilst on about level 19, I did manage one more very lurid spin exiting The Chicane - just to to teach me who was master!
Comments
It would benefit from a limited slip diff
Use the torque not the top end
Fabulous sound
Watch the transition from [i]under to over steer[/i] especially on the Craner Curves; they are very tricky for this car - its not a lightweight, everybody else seems to be able to take them quicker, and just ...... dont do anything sudden!
First of all, if I gave anyone following a fright - apologies!
After some years away from the circuit (racing everything from minis to FF2000), it may seem a strange choice to pick the Clio, but, hell it looks and sounds great! And we're here for fun, right?
I choose the "experienced" group which meant that I had all the quickest machinery to learn the car amongst. On top of that it had rained heavily before the 9am start! I remembered Donington to be tricky when damp.
Well, out we go, and I'm not one to pussy foot, so after one lap I decided to start finding the limits. The Clio has an initial understeering tendency which is rapidly changed when you apply the power. I must admit that because it sounds so much like a race car, which it is not,
I found myself treating it as such. This is not the best way forwards. It has plenty of mid range torque and this is where the best engine response is to be found: this is very important, because it is key to be able to smooth out the transition from understeer to oversteeer. If you don't you will be forever "threepenny bitting" your way round the corners.
As I started to push the car in the second session I began to think I had it mostly under control in the "dry line" conditions. However, just like a computer game where you have got yourself up to level 8 - you get shot! In this case I spun it (¾ way around Coppice before coming onto the straight) Of course this was not helped by getting off the dry line! Unfortunately, myself and passenger had a superb view of a very tidy (and quick) 944 Turbo and a Caterham bearing down on us (hoping to overtake me on the straight). Removing the (hopeless) opposite-lock I completed the 360 deg spin and continued by selecting second. Phew! that happened pretty damn quick.
By the third session it was pretty dry and we started to get a lot quicker. It was clear that I could overtake most things, sometimes even between Macleans and Coppice if the other guy was alert. For the quick Caterhams I was a thorn. Problem you will know about: very quick car round corners can only overtake slower car on the straight on track days (except for one clown!) so I'd pull over on any straight. However, he didn't have the grunt to draw level and ended up following me round lap after lap. I can only imagine he (and the 944 turbo which had fantastic brakes, more bhp and [i]predictable[/i] handling) enjoyed the view of me wrestling with "the beast"! Dont let me put you off though - its massive fun and a high grin factor.
I did get smoother as I got to know the car and adapt to its eccentric character. I forgot, you drive round the problems on track day cars - not try and sort them out! Whilst on about level 19, I did manage one more very lurid spin exiting The Chicane - just to to teach me who was master!
Comments
It would benefit from a limited slip diff
Use the torque not the top end
Fabulous sound
Watch the transition from [i]under to over steer[/i] especially on the Craner Curves; they are very tricky for this car - its not a lightweight, everybody else seems to be able to take them quicker, and just ...... dont do anything sudden!
Just read all of that with interest, I've got it booked for 9th Aug at Donington. My time in the car so far is 2 laps at Bruntingthorpe on the familiarisation day so intend to build up to it gently!
Have you driven an Elise? I found heel and toe on the change down helped keep the car stable on turn in, wondered if the Renault might be the same?
AdrianR
Have you driven an Elise? I found heel and toe on the change down helped keep the car stable on turn in, wondered if the Renault might be the same?
AdrianR
Glad you read it - hope you found it useful - but I've since found out that Clio V6 Mk1 does have an LSD. That's one of its Achilles heels apparently. Problem is: just what I discovered on low speed corner, it kind of "spits you out" when you put the power down suddenly - hence my spin exiting the chicane. I usually heel and toe anyhow so not sure, but I dont recommend braking into the corner at all with the Clio. Slower in and steady application of the power seems to be the best way to go making sure your line is right.As the TC handbook says - it rewards smooth driving.
All interesting stuff. One thing though:
hopefully they did enjoy it but had you just backed off a bit on the straights they could have gone by. It can be frustrating sometimes to be stuck like that.
4wheel drifter said:
For the quick Caterhams I was a thorn. Problem you will know about: very quick car round corners can only overtake slower car on the straight on track days (except for one clown!) so I'd pull over on any straight. However, he didn't have the grunt to draw level and ended up following me round lap after lap. I can only imagine he (and the 944 turbo which had fantastic brakes, more bhp and predictable handling) enjoyed the view of me wrestling with "the beast"!
hopefully they did enjoy it but had you just backed off a bit on the straights they could have gone by. It can be frustrating sometimes to be stuck like that.
Gassing Station | Track Club Forum | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff