Inaugural season 1966 Official website renault-sport.com | Constructors Renault | |
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Category One-make racing by Renault Country 19 different countries
(Europe, Latin America, China) | ||
The Renault Clio Cup is a one-make racing series created and managed by Renault Sport. As the name suggests, Renault Clio cars are used, and are grouped in 15 national championships and an International Cup.
Contents
Championships
There are currently 15 national championships: Belgium, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
French Cup
The French Clio Cup has been held since 2004.
The French Cup started in 1966 and used in succession Renault 8 Gordini (1966–1970), Renault 12 Gordini (1971–1974), Renault 5 LS kitée (1975–1976), Renault 5 Alpine (1977–1981), Renault 5 Alpine Turbo (1982–1984), Renault 5 GT Turbo (1985–1990), Renault Clio 16S (1991–1996) and Renault Mégane Coupé 16V (1997–2000). The French Cup wasn't held between 2001 and 2003.
Belgian Cup
This series started in 2001 as the Renault Sport Clio Cup Elf, but in 2005 the championship was cancelled due to the lack of participants. It returned in 2008 as the Renault Clio Cup Belux 2008 with 6 meetings.
The Renault Cup started in 1987 with the Renault 5 GT Turbo Cup organised jointly with the Netherlands. The Benelux championship switch into Belgian Cup with Renault Clio 16S between 1991 and 1996. Then it was Renault Mégane Coupé 16V (1997–2000) and finally the actual Clio cup (2001–2004, and since 2008).
United Kingdom Cup
The series' first winner of the inaugural race for Renault 5 TLs held in Brands Hatch was Maggie Loynd in 1974. The series, now known as the Courier Connections Renault UK Clio Cup, are now held as a support race to the British Touring Car Championship. The series previously supported the British leg of the World Series by Renault event.
The series saw subsequently these cars:
The series' past champion winners includes Andy Priaulx, Jason Plato and Tom Onslow-Cole. Other than that, past drivers of the series that were notable outside of racing were Andrew Ridgeley of the pop group Wham! in 1985 and it introduced actor Rowan Atkinson to motorsport, which he raced seldom between 1984 and 1990. One of his races was documented for his one-off show, Driven Man.
The car has since re-emerged for a reunion race in 2004, which he aimed to compete in, but had to be substituted by Perry McCarthy, due to illness. Atkinson bought the car following the race and was auctioned off in a Bonhams auction in 2005.
This years championship winner will be presented with a freshly restored Renault 5 GT Turbo, a winner's prize put forward by title sponsor Courier Connections to mark their 20th anniversary in business and the 40th anniversary of the Clio Cup
Other championships
Other one-make racing with Renault cars
Defunct championships:
The current car
Since 2008, the championship uses Renault Clio 197 with an F4R RS 2.0 litre engine.
Current regulations
The points scoring system changes according to national series. 'Bonus' points are generally awarded for fastest laps and pole positions in each round.