Unveiled in January after an intense development programme covering 5,000 kilometres, Clio Rally3 made its first rally appearance as a zero car on the opening round of the French Gravel Rally Championship.
The new model aroused curiosity, enthusiasm and a strong interest among rally competitors, observers and fans. Three weeks after this maiden outing, the latest sporting version of the fifth-generation Renault Clio has completed its homologation procedures with the international motorsport governing bodies. Starting today, Clio Rally3 is eligible to contest a wide range of rallies, from local events to the World Rally Championship.
Clio Rally3 benefits from all the experience and know-how of the technical teams at Viry-Châtillon and Dieppe on a constant quest for efficiency, performance and reliability. Castrol, a long-standing partner of Renault’s customer racing programmes, has played a crucial development role with the car to optimise engine and transmission lubrication, which is particularly important for a four-wheel drive car, as has the tyre manufacturer Michelin, a guarantee of proven performance. Clio Rally3 is assembled by the Manufacture Alpine Dieppe Jean Rédélé and fitted with Sabelt bucket seats which meet the new FIA homologation (valid for ten years) with six-point harnesses.
Powered by the four-cylinder 1.3-litre TCe 16-valve turbocharged direct injection engine, Clio Rally3 develops 260bhp and 415Nm of torque with a five-speed gearbox fitted with a limited-slip differential. On the outside, the aerodynamics have benefited from numerous synergies within Renault Group as Viry-Châtillon was able to draw on the expertise and computing resources of the BWT Alpine F1 Team in Enstone to design Clio Rally3’s rear wing.
This homologation also paves the way for the first deliveries of a model that has already attracted more than forty customers and its competition debut to follow the winning trajectory of Clio Rally5 and Clio Rally4, references in the world of front-wheel drive since their respective launches in 2020 and 2021.
Right from next week, five Clio Rally3s will compete in three events: the Rallye Terre de Castine, with Quentin Ribaud (Fun Meca Sport), Manu Gascou (CHL Sport Auto) and Bastien Bergounhe (PH Sport); the Rallye Dieppe Normandie with Clio Trophy France Asphalte title-holder Thomas Chauffray (GMC Compétition); and the Targa Florio with Italian Junior Rally Champion Alessandro Casella (Motorsport Italia). Official Clio Rally4 driver in the French Rally Championship, Tom Pieri (3P Racing by BHR) will also be in a Clio Rally3 on the Rallye Antibes Côte d’Azur (May 18-20).
