UK Clios 2004

[RickP:Clio51]

Are the Clio's confirmed in TOCA for 2004?
I may have some vested interest...
Cheers
RickP

[redshoes]

Not yet

[RickP:Clio51]

Thanks Reds

[Rocktracer]

[Rocktracer]

From www.cliocup.co.uk

Renault UK has confirmed the current Clio Renaultsport 172 Cup model will continue to run in the championship for the next two seasons before being replaced by a brand new Clio Cup car in 2006.

The official announcement means teams will be able to budget for the next two seasons in the firm knowledge they will not need to invest in new cars giving the series good stability. It also means each equipe can prepare well in advance for the arrival of the new car in 2006.

Renault UK's Director of Press & PR Tim Jackson commented: "It's very good news for all involved with the ELF Clio Renaultsport UK Cup confirming our continued support of British Motorsport. Over the past four seasons we've established the Clio Cup as the very best one-make saloon car championship with professional technical support and management. We intend the series to stay that way and this announcement will enable us to build for the future."

ELF Clio Renaultsport UK Cup Championship Manager Simon North said: "This announcement means that our teams will be able to concentrate on their current cars for another two years without any uncertainty and will then be able to prepare in plenty of time for the new model when it arrives for the beginning of the 2006 season."

Paul Hetherington, team owner of leading Clio Cup outfit Mardi Gras Motorsport, commented: "To know we have the current car for two more years is good news for us as it keeps things stable and means we have a good investment. We're delighted to hear there will definitely be a brand new Clio Cup in 2006 and it's good having a firm date to work towards for the arrival of the new car."

The ELF Clio Renaultsport UK Cup offers racing at almost equal speed to that of the Production Class in the British Touring Car Championship and is therefore the ideal proving ground for drivers aiming to forge a career in saloon cars and progress to the BTCC. The 2001 ELF Clio Renaultsport UK Cup Champion Danny Buxton (Hartford), who is now a fully-fledged BTCC driver after signing a deal with Vic Lee's Team Halfords outfit, is keen to point out that the Clio Cup is the number one place to be for aspiring touring car drivers.

The Clio Cup championship has quite literally been instrumental in getting me my drive in the British Touring Car Championship", said Danny, "Any budding touring car drivers out there that have aspirations to one day be a part of the BTCC should look no further than the Clio Cup.

"It's the best one-make championship in the country and while other manufacturers may come and go from UK motorsport Renault is fully committed to being there for the long haul which is fantastic for the continuity and development of the Clio Cup series. This championship has made my career and if anyone else has aspirations that match my own then the Clio Cup is unquestionably the place for them."

[RickP:Clio51]

This doesn't confirm that the Cup will remain within TOCA, although I have just had it confirmed from another source that they will be.
Cheers
RickP

[Craig]

Look forward to the carnage returning next year, Rickster! Fishy back with Pearson and Edwards Snr...?

[Muppet]

I heard TOCA will bring in all the manufacturer supported races and dump the others on us at F3/GT. ie. FFord comes to us and SEAT goes the other way (ha, ha... they won't know what hit them!!!!)

[Les]

[redshoes]

Much as I'd like to see both SEATs and Clios would TOCA want two such similar series on the same bill?

[Les]

well we have formula ford and formula renault and (to me) there is not a lot of difference there.
yeah have both TOCA - more the merrier.

[redshoes]

But FFord and FRenault are aimed at different levels and run very different regs. Cupras and Clios are both pitched at the same level.

[RickP:Clio51]

Don't forget Clios and Production class were always pretty similar in terms of lap time... they tolerated both of them up until now...

[andy_b]

over on Seatcupra.net we compared some times around Thruxton with the SEAT's and the BTCC. How does this compare to the Clios?

Thruxton Fastest laps:

SEAT race one:
Stefan Hodgetts 1:22:374

SEAT race two:
Stefan Hodgetts 1:22:644

BTCCC Touring race one:
Matt Neal, Honda 1:19.152

BTCC Touring race two:
Warren Hughes, MG 1:19.468

BTCC Production race one:
Tom Boardman, Pug 307 1:23.680

BTCC Production race two:
Tom Boardman, Pug 307 1:24.263

[RickP:Clio51]

I would rather hope a SEAT could out-grunt a Clio around Thruxton... would have thought Donington a more interesting comparison if the SEAT's have been there on the GP?

[andy_b]

I'm positive a SEAT will outgrunt a Clio, but I was wondering how much slower the Clio would be.

[andy_b]

had a quick look

Clios race one
Danny Buxton 1:24.750

Clio race two
Jonathon Fildes 1:24.683


closer than I thought

[RickP:Clio51]

Clio pole at Thruxton was 1:24.4 so under 2 secs slower which considering power difference isn't a whole lot...
Cheers RickP

[andy_b]

forgot to answer your question, Seats havent been to Donny. They have been to Croft, Silverstone GP, Oulton, Rockingham, Thruxton and at the end of September, Brands Hatch (one race on Indy circuit, another on GP circuit)

[andy_b]

pole for SEAT's at Thruxton

Race One
James Pickford 1:22:05

Race Two
Stefan Hodgetts 1:22:07

Pole for BTCC
Touring
Matt Neal 1:18

Proddies
Tom Boardman 1:23.675