New Clio Cup: the small sports car that packs a big punch

Transcription

1 06/2006 Press information for immediate publication New Clio Cup: the small sports car that packs a big punch New Clio Cup: efficient, fun to drive and cost-effective. Whilst developing New Clio Renault Sport, Renault Sport Technologies engineers designed a car that was to be exclusively used for track racing: New Clio Cup. Faithfully derived from the production version and designed for single-brand track racing formulas, this version of New Clio is efficient, fun to drive and cost-effective. At just 29,000, New Clio Cup offers an unrivalled price-to-performance ratio in the compact sports hatchback market. CLIO CUP

2 With over 650 units sold since 2001, Clio Cup is the only entry-level sports hatchback to have been met with worldwide acclaim. Praised for its performances and reliability, as well as for being great fun to drive, it now gives way to its successor, based on the New Clio. The designers of New Clio Cup have sought to retain the inherent qualities of Clio Cup while incorporating the modern technologies available on New Clio Renault Sport. The extensive use of production components means that Renault Sport Technologies is able to offer a motorsport model at an unrivalled price-to-performance ratio. The bodywork, engine, suspension system, power-assisted steering and brakes have therefore all been taken from the production model and simply adapted for the motorsport version. Sitting there on its Speedline 17-inch wheels fitted with specifically-designed Michelin tyres, New Clio Cup s raison d être is obvious for all to see: it is a born racer! The rear spoiler and roof-mounted air intake add even more stature to the distinguished and muscular design of New Clio Renault Sport. The driver compartment has been completely stripped down and bears little resemblance to the production model. Its focus is driver safety and comfort, and is fitted with an FIA homologated roll cage, HANS system compatible bucket seat and harness, steering wheel-mounted gearshift and digital dashboard display with a data acquisition system. When it comes to mechanics, the work carried out on the car s ground link technology ensures that New Clio Cup is fun to drive, meaning that it handles neutrally when entering a bend and tending to oversteer slightly when exiting. In order to give the driver the best possible feel of chassis response, a lot of work has gone into stiffening the structure (ball-joint connections, reinforced engine subframe, rigid engine and gearbox mountings), work which has been validated by more than 10,000km of testing. The normally-aspirated 2.0-litre 16V engine (F4R RS) comes with its own electronic management system and a specific air box, as well as a revised exhaust system which takes maximum power to a hefty 205bhp (151kw) at 7,300rpm (+5bhp) and the maximum torque to 223Nm at 5,550rpm (+8Nm). The four cylinder engine is combined with a specifically-designed six-speed sequential gearbox. In order to guarantee fairness between competitors, the engine, shock absorbers, gearbox and ECU are all sealed. By prohibiting any work from being carried out on these parts, Renault Sport Technologies also ensures that season costs are kept to a minimum. New Clio Cup will be making its track debut in 2006 in three national championships in Germany, Spain and Italy. In 2007, it will fully take over from Clio Cup on all other markets. 2 New Clio Cup takes advantage of the inherent qualities of New Clio Renault Sport.

3 From R8 Gordini to New Clio Cup Forty years ago, Renault invented the concept of promotional circuit formulas with the R8 Gordini Cup. This uninterrupted presence on race tracks around the world now provides Renault with an unrivalled level of expertise in this domain. The global success of Clio Cup is proof of their expertise. 1966: The start of the R8 Gordini Cup. 2006: The Clio Cup s final season. Although the R8 Gordini was initially successful in rallying (three Tour de Corse wins between 1964 and 1966 with Vinatier, Orsini and Piot), it was on the track that the car acquired its legendary status. The result of a partnership between Renault and the magazine Moteurs, the first R8 Gordini Cup, organized in 1966, revolutionized the world of amateur motorsport. Forty years later, the basics have not changed: respect of sporting fairness and the determination to provide racing at a competitive price remain central to the concerns of Renault Sport Technologies. With more than 650 units sold between 2001 and 2006 a world record for a sports hatchback Clio Cup has shown that this approach is far from outdated. Used in fourteen championships at the peak of its career mostly in Europe, but also in Turkey and Mexico Clio Cup has given hundreds of drivers the chance to take part in motorsport events thanks to its unrivalled price-to-performance ratio. New Clio Cup is the tenth model in a highly successful series of sports hatchbacks. Attentive as ever to its customers views, Renault Sport Technologies took the expectations of teams and drivers involved CLIO CUP 3

4 in Renault championships fully into account when drawing up the specifications for New Clio Cup. New Clio Cup therefore retains the qualities of Clio Cup but is also equipped with the latest in ground link technology, onboard electronics and safety features. The result more than meets expectations. New Clio Cup is a small sports car that packs a big punch and looks certain to set a benchmark in its category! Period Car Weight-topower ratio (kg/bhp) R8 Gordini R12 Gordini R5 LS/TS Kit R5 Alpine R5 Alpine Turbo Supercinq GT Turbo Clio 16S Megane Coupé Clio Cup New Clio Cup 5.1 R8 Gordini R12 Gordini R5 LS/TS Kit R5 Alpine R5 Alpine Turbo Supercing GT Turbo Clio 16S 4 Megane Coupé Clio Cup

5 Over 10,000km of development testing Designed at the same time as New Clio Renault Sport, New Clio Cup benefits from the expertise and know-how of engineers from Renault Sport Technologies production and motorsport design offices. Developed in record time, New Clio Cup went through more than 10,800km of track testing to ensure that it will be easy for teams to run on all its intended markets. 9 tracks, 11 drivers and 10,800km of testing! In order to guarantee impeccable reliability and performance, a total of nine test sessions were held on nine different tracks: Aubevoye, Issoire, Estoril, Montlhéry, Spa-Francorchamps, Alès, Mas du Clos, Ladoux and Guadix. These tracks were selected in virtue of their specific characteristics. Thermal dimensioning was therefore validated in the heat of Estoril. Vibration testing was conducted on the track at Montlhéry. At Ladoux, Michelin s test track, the team was able to develop the car s rain tyres on wet tracks. The highlydemanding Spa-Francorchamps track was used to validate the design of the powertrain. Two endurance sessions were held on the tracks at Mas du Clos and Guadix. The drivers took turns behind the wheel throughout the day and night, covering more than 3,000 kilometres in the process! Keen to offer a vehicle suited to all driving styles, Renault Sport Technologies called upon the services of eleven drivers from different backgrounds during the sessions: Laurent Hurgon (also a New Clio Renault Sport development driver), Julien Piguet, Stéphane Ortelli, Lucas Lasserre, Frédéric Gabillon, Renaud Kuppens, Grégory Fargier, Jonathan Cochet, Jérôme Policand, Yann Clairay and Patrick Pilet. CLIO CUP 5

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7 Chapter 1 Built for the track 8 The spirit of New Clio Renault Sport F1-derived aerodynamics An interior worthy of a big race car Chapter 2 Ground link technology: efficiency and driving pleasure 10 Independent steering-axis front suspension system Rear suspension system: the perfect foil for the front suspension! A first: electric power-assisted steering Brakes: even and efficient, as standard! Specifically-developed Michelin tyres Chapter 3 A production engine combined with a specific gearbox 12 Performance and reliability from the normally-aspirated 2.0-litre 16V A six-speed sequential gearbox Chapter 4 Latest generation onboard electronics 14 A single engine and gearbox management unit A high-end drive station Data acquisition system as standard! Chapter 5 Driving pleasure in total safety 16 A bodyshell reinforced by an FIA-homologated roll cage An interior worthy of a GT Part marking to fight counterfeiting Chapter 6 Sporting fairness and cost control 18 Extensive use of production components Preparation is forbidden: fairness is guaranteed! Reliable and durable tyres Prices Chapter 7 Technical data 19 CLIO CUP 7

8 Chapter 1 Built for the track The distinguished and muscular design of New Clio Renault Sport has been enhanced on New Clio Cup with the addition of a few specific motorsport features. Judging by the interior, there is no room for doubt: New Clio Cup is a true racing thoroughbred! The perfect profile for track racing. The spirit of New Clio Renault Sport 8 New Clio Renault Sport appears to have the perfect profile for track racing, with its wider front and rear wings, heavily perforated front bumper, and its front wing-mounted air extractors and rear diffuser. In comparison to New Clio Renault Sport, New Clio Cup has been given three features that are specifically adapted to motor racing: A rear spoiler which provides additional downforce to that generated by the rear diffuser. A roof-mounted air intake, designed to ventilate the driver compartment. 17-inch wheels designed by Speedline, which are identical to those used on Clio Renault Sport Concept. New Clio Cup has been given an even more aggressive look thanks to its lowered stance and decal kit. Each competitor will be able to coordinate the colour of his/her car with the kit s stickers. The possibilities are almost endless, but the decal kit will ensure that there is a consistent visual identity throughout the field. The driver compartment is ventilated by the roof-mounted air intake. The rear spoiler adds to the effect of the diffuser.

9 F1-derived aerodynamics New Clio Cup adopts the aerodynamic features first seen on New Clio Renault Sport. Very closely related to those used in Formula 1, the rear diffuser and the front wing-mounted air extractors contribute to the stability of the car at high speeds. New Clio Cup is the first entry-level sports hatchback to feature such a sophisticated aerodynamics setup. The rear spoiler-mounted air diffuser is designed to reduce any lift that is naturally generated by the car s profile without adversely affecting the finer points of the aerodynamic setup. By channelling airflow beneath the car, the diffuser accelerates and expels the air, creating a zone of low pressure, which "sucks" the car to the ground. The twin exhaust outlets fit perfectly into the diffuser without hindering its performance in any way. The addition of a rear spoiler is designed to adapt the aerodynamics to the specific conditions involved in track racing. Finally, the front wing-mounted air extractors also help to evacuate hot air from under the engine compartment. They eliminate unwanted turbulence and direct airflow along the sides of the car, which also helps to improve the car s stability at high speeds. Air extractors evacuate hot air from the engine. The diffuser is a major innovation in this category. An interior worthy of a big race car The New Clio Cup interior features a level of finish and equipment that set a new benchmark in its category. Designed specifically by Sabelt, official partner of Renault Sport Technologies for the New Clio Cup project, the bucket seat with built-in head restraint and six-point safety harness are compatible with the HANS system. In order to optimise the driving position, the height of the steering wheel may be adjusted. A stripped-down, ergonomic driver compartment. Located right next to the steering wheel, the gearshift allows you to change gears while keeping both hands on the wheel. On the right, a specifically designed console allows you to easily enable all the controls, including the starter, the lights, the windscreen wipers, the fire extinguisher and the pit lane speed limiter. The dashboard is fitted with a colour flat panel TFT screen from Magneti-Marelli. It displays all the information the driver and team are likely to need. CLIO CUP 9

10 Chapter 2 Ground link technology: efficiency and driving pleasure New Clio Renault Sport s rigourous, balanced and sporty chassis provided a solid base on which to develop an efficient, easy and fun-to-drive motorsport version with changes to only a bare minimum of mechanical parts. New Clio Cup is thus the first Renault sports car to adopt an electric power-assisted steering system. The double axis strut front suspension and reinforced engine subframe. 10 Independent steering-axis front suspension system New Clio Cup retains the independent steering-axis front suspension system featured on New Clio Renault Sport. This system helps to reduce the horizontal force generated by engine torque under acceleration. The front suspension steering axis is completely independent of the damper system, unlike a McPherson-like suspension system where the steering axis is attached to the lower arm balljoint. The only parts that have been specifically designed for New Clio Cup are the struts, the shock absorbers, the springs and the bracket connecting the lower arm, the pivot and the pivot holder. The shock absorbers cannot be adjusted and are sealed on delivery to prevent teams from carrying out any preparation. The springs, set to a stiffness of 75N/mm, provide a good level of driver comfort without reducing the performance of the front suspension. When shifting weight from one side of the car to the other, New Clio Cup responds with a gradual increase in oversteer, generating a turn-in effect on the entry to bends. Taken from Renault s range of components, the 22mm anti-roll bar has a slightly increased diameter in comparison to the production model in order to limit understeer and allow the tyres to do their work.

11 Links between the subframe and the body have been stiffened. In order to adapt the rigidity of the front suspension to motorsport requirements, the engine subframe has been reinforced by an aluminium crossmember. It has also been raised by 5mm in order to achieve streamlined kinematic response for improved ontrack handling. The subframe is rigidly attached to the body and the front suspension links have been stiffened and use a ball-joint system. Competitors may make adjustments to three of the front suspension settings: Body height, by altering the pre-load of the suspension springs. Camber, by using the shock absorbers upper attachment yokes. Wheel alignment, by using the steering tie-rods. A first: electric power-assisted steering New Clio Cup is the first Renault sports car to adopt an electric power-assisted steering system. In comparison to New Clio Renault Sport, the only modification relates to the mapping of the ECU. The chosen setup provides power-steering that is suitable for use in both wet and dry track conditions. Steering lock response has been improved by raising the steering rack by 5mm. Brakes: even and efficient, as standard! With the exception of the brake pads, the braking system is identical to that used on New Clio Renault Sport. The development drivers emphasized the consistency and efficiency of the brakes, irrespective of the track and weather conditions. The front brakes use 312mm oversize ventilated discs, with Brembo four-piston calipers. At the rear, the brakes use 300mm solid discs. Brake distribution can be adjusted using a limiter, which acts upon the rear braking system. The limiter may be easily adjusted on the specific page of the digital dashboard display. Specifically-developed Michelin tyres As with all Renault Sport sports models, the 20/62-17 tyres have been specifically designed by Michelin: S9B for dry tracks and P2C for wet tracks. The 8x17 alloy wheels have been designed by Speedline, one of Renault Sport Technologies partners on the New Clio Cup project. Rear suspension system: the perfect foil for the front suspension! The production model s programmed deflection, torsion beam rear suspension has been maintained. As with the front suspension, ball-joint links are used to ensure greater rigidity and improve stability under hard braking. The shock absorbers and springs (130N/mm) have been specifically designed for New Clio Cup. The wheel alignment and camber settings can be adjusted using riser shims. The rear suspension now use a ball-joint system.

12 Chapter 3 A production engine combined with a specific gearbox The performance of the New Clio Renault Sport s 2.0-litre 16V engine means a minimum of modifications have been necessary to produce the motorsport version. This guarantees reliability and controlled costs. The six-speed sequential gearbox has however specifically designed to meet the demands of motorsport competition. Under the bonnet, the large Clio V6 air box supplies air to the 2.0-litre 16V engine. Performance and reliability from the normally-aspirated 2.0-litre 16V 12 New Clio Cup takes the best of the innovations made to the four cylinder 2.0-litre 16V (F4R RS) engine fitted to New Clio Renault Sport: Optimization of the length and cross-section of the intake ducts to increase volumetric efficiency to greater than 1. Work has been done on the aerodynamics of the valve seats and the camshaft design (continuously variable offset on intake) to optimise exhaust gas flow and fill rate. The shapes of the combustion chamber and piston have been modified to provide a compression ratio of 11.5:1.

13 The engine used on New Clio Cup has not been modified internally in any way from the one on the production version. It is sealed at four separate points before being fitted to the car. Under the bonnet of New Clio Cup, the most visible modifications are: The air box, taken from Clio V6. The mechanical throttle valve unit which replaces the motorized model used on the production version. The specifically-designed rigid engine and gearbox mountings. The exhaust system has also been revised. The 3Y' exhaust manifold has been retained, but the intake catalytic converter has been removed leaving only the main catalytic converter in place. The dual absorption silencer emits a pleasant engine note. New Clio Cup can however, at no extra cost, be fitted with the optional production silencer limiting engine noise to 85dB. Combined with the optimized electronic engine management, these modifications yield an increased power output of 151kW (205bhp) at 7,300rpm and torque of 223Nm at 5,550rpm. In addition to the track testing, an endurance bench test programme was also used to simulate 100 hours of racing at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, reputed to be two of the most demanding circuits in the world. A six-speed sequential gearbox The six-speed sequential gearbox has been specifically designed for the motorsport version. It is fitted with a self-locking differential system with clutch discs and ramp pressure plates. Positioned right next to the steering wheel, the small gear lever enables very quick shifting, especially as an engine cut-out switch on the gearbox means there is no need to lift off the accelerator while moving up through the gears. Relatively short gear ratios have been used to maximize responsiveness under acceleration rather than raise the maximum speed. The hydraulically-controlled clutch mechanism is the same as on the production version. The clutch disc has been specifically designed (four dampened plates). The drivetrain has also been specifically designedand sized to withstand the torque surges generated on slick tyres. The six-speed sequential gearbox was specifically designed for Clio Cup. CLIO CUP 13

14 Chapter 4 Latest generation onboard electronics A key ingredient in modern motorsport, onboard electronics have come a long way since they were first introduced. The innovations seen on New Clio Cup are the result of a partnership between Renault Sport Technologies and Magneti Marelli and are based on those developed for the Formula Renault 3.5. New Clio Cup is equipped with a data acquisition system as standard, a first on an entry-level sports hatchback. A single unit handles all engine and gearbox management, as well as data acquisition. A high-end drive station 14 A single engine and gearbox management unit Following on from their joint work on the development of Mégane Trophy and the Formula Renault 3.5, Renault Sport Technologies and Magneti- Marelli are continuing to work together on New Clio Cup. Engine and gearbox management, along with the data acquisition system, have therefore all been built in to a single ECU. This unit is sealed to prevent any modification. The dashboard is fitted with a 24:9 format flat panel TFT screen. Ergonomic and user-friendly, it displays two pages to be used by the driver while out on the track and five pages for team use, once the car is back in the pits. The driver pages display the engine revs, gear, car speed, water temperature, oil pressure and lap time. The team pages display the engine and gearbox parameters, electrical diagnostics and the brake distribution settings. Above the screen, six LEDs light up between 6,350 and 7,400rpm to help the driver decide when to change gear. Two further LEDs light up to signal an alarm and an explanatory message is displayed on the dashboard.

15 All the switches are located on the console. Various switches are organized according to their function on a console located to the right of the driver: circuit breaker, starter, headlights, rain light, windscreen wipers, fire extinguisher, etc. In addition, New Clio Cup is fitted with a pit lane speed limiter. The battery master switch, derived from the one fitted on the Formula Renault 3.5 and located on the central transmission tunnel, is completely electronic and incorporates almost all critical fuses and relays. In the event of a short-circuit it cuts off the power supply, reinitializing all circuits. Data acquisition system as standard! New Clio Cup comes with two software applications to make things easy for both teams and drivers. Now common in top-level motorsport, data acquisition is being taken to the masses by New Clio Cup, which is fitted with such a system as standard! Wintax 3 is used to analyse the data collected. With a storage capacity of 16MB, the system can record around fifty parameters, including engine revs, gear selected, steering wheel angle, speed, etc. over a period of 62 minutes. An optional kit containing extra sensors enables the team to view the track on the PC screen, display the lap time on the dashboard, measure brake pressure, etc. Vision 4 relays information from the vehicle sensors in real time. In the event of a problem, all parameters can be checked immediately, making diagnosis easier than ever before. CLIO CUP Wintax 3 is used to analyse acquired data. 15

16 Chapter 5 Driving pleasure in total safety New Clio Cup benefits from Renault s acclaimed expertise in the field of safety. By offering equipment usually only found on high-end sports cars, New Clio Cup sets a new benchmark in its category. The body is reinforced by an FIA-homologated roll cage. A bodyshell reinforced by an FIA-homologated roll cage Identical to that of New Clio, the New Clio Cup bodyshell is reinforced by a bolted roll cage designed to comply with the standards of the FIA Super 2000 regulations. The decision to include a bolted roll cage means that the body-roll cage assembly does not need to be replaced every time the car is involved in a crash. The roll cage has been officially approved by the FIA, having easily exceeded the current standards. An interior worthy of a GT 16 Designed specifically for New Clio Cup by Sabelt, official partner of Renault Sport Technologies, the bucket seat with built-in head restraint and six-point safety harness are compatible with the HANS system. The steering wheel, the steering wheel hub and the seat mountings are also supplied by Sabelt and have been specifically designed for New Clio Cup. In addition, the driver is protected by a window safety net. Nouvelle The bucket Clio seat Renau and harness are HANS lt system-compatible. Sport reçoit

17 Electrically-controlled, automatic fire extinguisher. The extinguisher system can be triggered using three electrical controls located at the base of the windscreen, on the dashboard and on the unit located to the right of the driver. Three jets are located in the interior and engine compartment (intake and exhaust manifold). New Clio Cup can be supplied with a wider driver s seat and/or a passenger bucket seat as optional extras. Part marking to fight counterfeiting All specifically-designed New Clio Cup parts, as well as structural components taken from New Clio Renault Sport, are marked in order to avoid the use of counterfeit components which may compromise driver safety. Parts are marked using either holograms or laser engravings. Holograms are used to guarantee that New Clio Cup parts are genuine. CLIO CUP 17

18 Chapter 6 Sporting fairness and cost control All championships organized by Renault Sport Technologies are based on the same philosophy: guarantee sporting fairness whilst limiting running costs. Thanks to the extensive use of production components, (sealed, where appropriate) New Clio Cup meets both of these requirements. Extensive use of production components Both designed at the Renault Sport Technologies design office, New Clio Renault Sport and New Clio Cup share more than 60% of their parts. Bodyshell, bodywork, engine, brakes and running gear components - New Clio Cup s main components have all been taken from the production model. New Clio Renault Sport s natural qualities have meant that these components could be used without any loss in performance. The use of fewer specifically-designed parts ensures controlled season costs, as prices are kept down and servicing is needed less frequently. Preparation is forbidden: fairness is guaranteed! By prohibiting any work from being carried out on mechanical components, Renault Sport Technologies ensures maximum sporting fairness between the competing teams. Sealed at four points, the production engine can only be serviced by an approved engine partner. The same goes for the shock absorbers and ECU, which cannot be modified in any way. Reliable and durable tyres With tyres accounting for a large proportion of running costs, Michelin has designed a reliable and durable tyre that is available at a competitive price. Slick and wet tyres are available for 200 each, excl. tax. Prices New Clio Cup is available at a price of 29,000 excl. tax. Assembled in the motorsport workshop at the Renault Alpine plant in Dieppe, it is supplied in race-ready condition. Optional extras prices (excl. tax) Production silencer Free Heated windscreen 400 Wide bucket seat 55 Passenger bucket seat 990 Optional data acquisition kit 1,080 18

19 Chapter 7 Technical data Chassis Steel monocoque, Matter bolted roll cage Aerodynamic features: Diffuser and rear spoiler Engine Layout: Type: Bore x stroke: Power supply/ignition: Max power: Max. torque: Max. engine speed: Transmission Type: Gearbox: Gearshift: Differential: Clutch: Axles and suspension systems Front: Rear: Brakes front transversally mounted Renault F4R RS 4 cylinder 16 valve 1,998cc 82.7 x 93mm Magneti-Marelli built-in management system 151kW (205bhp) at 7,300rpm 223Nm (22.7m.kg) at 5,550rpm 7,500rpm traction Sadev 6-speed sequential gearbox + reverse gear steering-wheel mounted joystick simited slip (discs and rails) single disc steering axis suspension, Bilstein shock absorbers, H&R springs programmed deflection, torsion beam suspension, Bilstein shock absorbers, H&R springs Front: 312mm diameter ventilated discs with Brembo 4-piston callipers Rear: 300mm diameter solid discs with Brembo callipers Brake pads: Brembo Renault Sport recommendation: Ferodo DS 1.11 (front) and DS 2500 (rear) Wheels: Speedline 8 x 17 one-piece aluminium/magnesium alloy wheels Tyres: Michelin 20/62-17, S9B (slick) and P2C (wet) Dimensions, weight and capacities: Length: 3,986mm Overall width: 2,025mm Height: 1,480mm Wheel base: 2,585mm Front and rear tracks: 1,538mm and 1,520mm SCx: 0.77 Fuel tank: 54 litres Weight (unladen): 1,060kg CLIO CUP 19

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