After an intensive development programme, New Renault Clio Rally is about to show, for the first time, what it’s got in race conditions. A few weeks before being homologated, the latest addition to the Renault Sport Racing customer racing range will be in action on the Monte-Carlo Rally (23-26 January).
Unveiled during the Formula 1 French Grand Prix weekend in June, then introduced at the Rallye Cœur de France in September, New Clio Rally is one of three versions of the fifth generation of the Renault Clio designed for racing.
Like New Clio Cup and New Clio RX, New Clio Rally enjoys all the know-how from the customer racing teams in Viry-Châtillon and Dieppe, where all three iterations are currently being assembled as the homologation process draws to a close.
After several months and more than 10,000 kilometres of testing, the latest race car from Renault Sport Racing is about to make its first public appearance in anger on the Monte-Carlo Rally. Florian Bernardi, who won the Clio R3T Trophy France in 2018 and finished fifth in the FIA ERC-3 European Rally Championship in 2019 will be behind the wheel.
As part of the Rallye Monte-Carlo organisation team as a zero car, New Clio Rally will be the last to be on the stages, just ten minutes before the FIA World Rally Championship crews.
Competitors and spectators alike will get a glimpse of the potential and efficiency of the car based on Clio R.S. Line, which features an arc-welded steel monocoque, a 4-cylinder 16-valve 1330cc TCe engine and Michelin tyres.
Available from €42,000 excluding tax, New Clio Rally meets Rally5 regulations and the latest safety standards set for the category. It will also compete in its own trophies such as the Clio Trophy France, held over six rounds of the FFSA French Tarmac Rally Championship, and its Iberian and Italian counterparts.
Like the RX and Cup versions, New Clio Rally enjoys a a big commercial hit as the three iterations are up to 140 reservations as of today.
"It will be a proper baptism of fire in this role on the Monte-Carlo," says Florian Bernardi. "We will have a front-row seat for New Clio Rally’s first appearance and, what’s more, it will be on one of the most legendary rallies in the world. After being involved in the development, it is an honour to represent Renault Sport Racing and an extraordinary opportunity to accumulate important mileage with this new car. We would like to thank Renault Sport Racing and the Automobile Club de Monaco for the trust they have placed in us."
"We are proud to give New Clio Rally its first public run on such a legendary rally," adds Benoît Nogier, Renault Sport Racing customer racing director. "Our links with the Automobile Club de Monaco allow us to roll out New Clio Rally in this wonderful motor racing event for its first appearance in racing conditions. With nothing to race for, we will take the opportunity to enhance the setup database that will be made available to all our customers. We will also be able to help Monte-Carlo Rally first-timer Boris Carminati, who will be in a Renault Clio R3T thanks to his 2019 Clio R3T Trophy France title. So far, New Clio Rally has received a warm welcome, proving to be very effective on all surfaces. It truly has all it needs to become a future benchmark."
New Clio Rally - Specifications
Chassis
- Base: Clio R.S. Line
- Structure: Arc-welded steel monocoque
- Front axle: Pseudo McPherson
- Rear axle: H axle
- Suspension: Bos Suspension non-adjustable shock absorber
Engine
- Type: Renault 1330cc TCe – 4 cylinders – 16 valves
- Turbocharger: Garrett
- Production-based cooling
- Fuel feed: direct injection
- Power: 180 horsepower
- Torque: 300Nm
- Red line: 6,500rpm
- Electronics: Life Racing
- Fuel: SP98 standard
Dimensions
- Length – Width – Height (mm): 4,050 – 1,988 - 1,400
- Track Front-Rear (mm): 1,500 - 1,490
- Wheelbase (mm): 2,579
- Unloaded weight: 1,080 kg (FIA regulation)
Transmission
- Sadev sequential 5-speed + reverse gearbox
- Floor-mounted selector with MAR electronic release
- ZF type limited slip differential
- Sachs clutch
Wheels
- Wheels: 6x15’’ (gravel), 6.5x16’’ (tarmac)
- Tyres: Michelin
- Front brakes: according to regulation
- Rear brakes: according to regulation
- Hydraulic handbrake
Others
- FIA homologated FT3 fuel cell (60 litres)
https://projekt-renault.de/index.php/renault/news-renault/item/1836-new-clio-rally-on-display-on-the-monte-carlo#sigProGalleria3c47bb367d