2002 Renault Sport Clio V6 (230) Phase 1

• Hand built by Tom Walkinshaw Racing in Sweden
• One of just 223 Iceberg Silver, right-hand drive, UK-market cars produced
• Subtle enhancements such as a Janspeed exhaust and adjustable dampers
• Mid-engined, wide-body concept, reminiscent of the 1980s Renault 5 Turbo
• Comprehensive service history and a fresh MOT.
• The early Phase 1 cars are quickly achieving cult status and this impressively presented, well-maintained example may well turn out to be a rather shrewd investment

A spin-off from the ‘Clio Trophy’ race series and first previewed at the Paris Motor Show in 1998, the Clio V6 230 was in many ways the spiritual successor to the mid-engined 5-Turbo. Launched in 2001, the wide-hipped, mid-engined ‘baby supercar was broadly based on the Clio Mk II but the V6 variant actually shared very little with its standard counterpart. Where the rear seats would normally be, nestled a tweaked version of the proven and unstressed 3.0-litre, 24v, V6 unit from the Laguna saloon offering access to 227bhp (230PS) fed to the rear wheels and enabling 0-60 in 6.2 seconds and 146mph, not for the faint-hearted in such a diminutive ‘rocket ship’. The Phase 1 cars were assembled by hand at the Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) workshops in Uddevalla in Sweden, using parts shipped from France.

This particular Clio V6 Sport was registered in April 2002 and is one of just 223 right-hand drive, UK-market, Phase 1 examples finished in the desirable hue of Iceberg Silver with a Charcoal interior. Having been previously offered by Silverstone Auctions in 2014, this is a superb example that we are delighted to offer once again. It benefits from some subtle refinements including a Janspeed exhaust, BMC airbox and adjustable dampers, all of which add to the overall ‘dynamique’ and is accompanied by a comprehensive service history and a fresh MOT.

Described by Evo Magazine as one of the greatest cars Renault have ever offered, the Clio V6 is very quickly achieving cult status and has to be worthy of a slot in any serious collection or even a place on the show field should that be your remit. Classic car history often suggests that it’s the early cars that end up being the most sought-after and this Phase 1, the essence of modern mid-engine motoring 18 years ago, will no doubt be a classic in the future.