2002 Renaultsport Clio 172 Cup

Background:

Renault may have come slightly later to the 1980s/1990s hot hatch party than some but it stayed on longer and – some would argue – remained truer to the core values of stripped-back lightness and driver feel.

The bar was set pretty high with the bonkers 5GT Turbo and that torch was carried by the Clio 16v and Williams models which followed, all instantly-lauded performance machines. Trading on its Formula 1 successes, the Régie spun off a newly-established sub-brand - RenaultSport - with a range of machines carrying the name of the Grand Prix and Championship-winning engine manufacturer (rather than the team to which it supplied its amazing power units.)

Enter, in 1999, the RenaultSport Clio 172. Based on the Clio II platform, it was - like its predecessors - front-engined and front-wheel drive but was visually very distinct with a host of body modifications, including wider arches, restyled bumpers, side skirts and 15" OZ wheels.

In 2001, the Clio received a midlife upgrade, with a host of detail changes and the Gen 2 RenaultSport Clio was born. The distinctive styling of the early machine was retained but modified in line with the updated look of the main range and the 172 came in a range of special colours, to make it more distinctive. The 15" rims were replaced by 16" versions of RenaultSport design and the cabin was also modified in line with the whole model range but retained the distinctive and more supportive half-leather, half-alcantra seats with their embossed Renault Sport logos.

A year later, the RenaultSport Clio 172 Cup was born. Essentially designed for GpN motorsport homologation, this was a pared-down version of the original, with lightened versions of components like the glass and seats and the removal of some of the more luxurious touches (and the sound-deadening) that had crept in from the wider model range. With a reduced 1,021kg weight and its 172bhp Mecachrome-modified 2-litre, four-cylinder engine driving fewer ancillaries, plus new 16" Speedline Turini wheels, the result was a livelier, even more engaging driving experience and with a 0-62 time tested at just 6.2 seconds by Autocar, it’s regarded as the last of the ‘hardcore’ Clios by enthusiasts.

The car:

This UK-market specification, right-hand-drive Renaultsport Clio 172 Cup is an eye-catching example of the marque’s entertaining and acclaimed hot hatch hero. Delivered - as were the vast majority of the 2,392 UK cars - in the trademark Mondial Blue, it still looks as distinctive as the day it was made, sitting purposefully on its Speedline alloys.

Just celebrating its 21st birthday, this hot hatch charmer has been fitted with some high-performance modifications but retains largely unmolested.  It of course retains its original naturally aspirated 2-litre power unit, driving the front wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission.

The odometer shows 95,000 miles and this delightful example of the breed has recently benefitted from a service, new brake callipers and a fresh MOT.

Summary:

A practical and distinctive daily driver which will put a smile on the driver’s face in an instant, once traffic eases and the roads open up. A classic hot hatch, just waiting to be enjoyed.

Location: Leicestershire

Seller: Trade

Photos: Professional