Renault Clio Cup

Renault Clio Cup

Category	One-make racing by Renault
Country	19 different countries (Europe, Latin America, China)
Inaugural season	1966
Constructors	Renault
Official website	Site of actual clio cup

The Clio Cup Europe is a one-make racing series created and managed by (until 2020 known as Renault Sport). The championship was born after merge the 4 active Renault Clio national cups at that moment.

National cups[]

Gabriele Torelli chasing the leading drivers during the Renault Clio Cup Europe race at the Red Bull Ring in 2021

Up to 22 different renault cups have come into existence at some point: Belgium, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom for example.

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).^[1] 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.^[2] It returned in 2008 as the Renault Clio Cup Belux 2008 with 6 meetings.^[3]

The Renault Cup started in 1987 with the Renault 5 GT Turbo Cup organised jointly with the Netherlands.^[4] 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: Renault 5 TL (1974–1977), Renault 5 TS (1977–1985), Renault 5 GT Turbo (1985–1990), Renault Clio 16V Mark I (1991–1995), Renault Sport Spider (1996–1999), Clio Renaultsport 172 (2000–2001), Clio Renaultsport 182 (2002–2006), Clio Renaultsport 197 (2007–2009),^[5] and Clio Renaultsport 200 (2010–2019).

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^[6] 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.

Spanish Cup[]

The Copa Nacional Renault was the longest running racing championship on speed circuits in Spain. The championship was released in 1969 taking advantage of the beginnings of the Jarama Circuit. It was organized for much of its history by FASA-Renault and Renault Sport Spain, while in its last decade it remained active thanks to Vline, Codony Sport and Driveland Events. Its last edition with its own national regulations was in 2020, denominating itself in its last 20 years of existence as Renault Sport Clio Cup Spain.

Other championships[]

Copa Clio Brasil, W Racing 2006 car

2009 Renault Clio Cup in Motorland Aragón

• Renault Sport Clio International Cup
• Clio Cup China
• Renault Super Clio Cup Brazil
• Renault Sport Clio Cup Belgium
• Renault DTC Light Cup Denmark (since 2004 as Renault Clio Cup Denmark, since 2010 as Renault DTC Light Cup)
• LO Renault New Clio Cup Suisse
• Clio Cup Sweden^[7]
• Clio Cup Italia
• Dunlop Sportmaxx / ID&T Clio cup Netherlands
• Renault Sport Clio Cup Slovenia
• Michelin Clio Cup Series with Protyre^[8]
• 

Other one-make racing with Renault cars[]

• Renault Clio V6 Cup
• Dacia Logan Cup
• Alpine Elf Europa Cup
• IMSA Renault Cup (1982–1985 with Renault LeCar and then Renault Encore)
• SCCA Sports Renault Championship (1984–1989 with Renault/Jeep Sport USA open cockpit, purpose-built cars)

The current car[]

A Renault Clio R.S. V after the first race at the Red Bull Ring 2021

Since 2020, the championship uses Renault Clio R.S. V with an Renault HR13 engine.

• Engine: Renault HR13, 4 cylinder, 1330 cm3 Turbo.
• Transmission: Sequentially controlled, dog-clutch box with 6 gears and controlled ZF differential.
• Suspension: Front: McPherson; Rear: H axis.
• Brakes: Discs, Front: ventilated ø280; Rear: solid ø238
• Wheels: Single piece 7 x 17 alloy
• Tyres: Michelin S9M (dry) or P2H (rain)
• Dimensions: Wheelbase: 2579 mm; Length/Width: 4050 mm/1988 mm
• Fuel tank: FIA FT3
• Weight: 1030 kg

Current regulations[]

Scoring system

Chronology and cars used[]

Renault Promotional Cups

Series

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

00

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

France

Europe

Gordini 8 Cup

Gordini 12 Cup

5 LS Cup

5 Alpine Cup

5 Alpine Turbo Cup

5 GT Turbo Cup

Clio Cup I

Megane Cup

II

III

IV

V

V

Spain

8 Cup

5 TS Cup

5 Turbo Cup

5 GT Turbo Cup

Clio Cup I

Megane Cup

II

III

IV

V

8 Cup

5 TS Cup

5 TX Cup

5 GTS Cup

Clio Cup I

Italy

5 LS Cup

5 Alpine Cup

5 Alpine Turbo Cup

5 GT Turbo Cup

Clio Cup I

Megane Cup

II

III

IV

Central Europe

IV

United Kingdom

5 TL Cup

5 TS Cup

5 GT Turbo Cup

Clio Cup I

Spider Cup

II

III

IV

Switzerland

5 TS Cup

5 GT Turbo Cup

5 GT Cup

Clio Cup I

Megane Cup

II

III

Benelux

Netherlands

5 GT Turbo Cup

Clio Cup I

Megane Cup

II

III

IV

Belgium

Clio Cup I

Megane Cup

II

III

Portugal

5 GT Turbo Cup

Clio Cup I

Megane Cup

II

Scandinavia

Denmark

Clio Cup I

II

III

Sweden

III

IV

Germany

Bohemia

II

III

III (VLN)

III

Czech Republic

Argentina

Megane Cup

Turkey

II

Mexico

II

Brazil

II Super

Slovenia

III

China

III

IV

Other series

	1980s				1980s										1990s										2000s										2010s										2020s
	76	77	78	79	80	81	82	83	84	85	86	87	88	89	90	91	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21
Europe	Renault 5 Alpine Cup					Renault 5 Turbo Cup											Renault Clio Cup				Spider Elf Trophy			R.S. Clio Trophy												Eurocup Clio
										Alpine V6 Turbo Cup				Renault 21 Turbo Cup																Megane Trophy										R.S. Trophy			Alpine Elf Cup
United States							IMSA Renault Cup		IMSA Renault Cup
										SCCA Sports Renault

Champions[]

Year	Clio Cup	Clio Cup	Clio Cup	Clio Cup	Clio Cup Benelux	Clio Cup	Clio Cup Central Europe	Clio Cup
2014			Óscar Nogués	Mike Bushell	Sebastiaan Bleekemolen
2015			Simone Iacone	Ashley Sutton
2016				Ant Whorton-Eales	Sebastiaan Bleekemolen
2017				Mike Bushell				David Lau
2018				Paul Rivett			Sebastiaan Bleekemolen
2019
2020

Year	Clio Cup Europe	Italian group (A)	French group (B)	Central group (C)	Spanish group (D)
2021[9]		[10]		[11]

See also[]

• Eurocup Mégane Trophy
• Dacia Logan Cup
• Formula Renault

References[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Renault Clio Cup.

External links[]

• Clio Cup Europe official website
• (in French) Clio Cup France official website
• (in Spanish) Clio Cup Spain official website
• (in Italian) Clio Cup Italia official website
• (in German) Clio Cup Central Europe official website
• (in English) Clio Cup China official website

External links[]

• DriverDB