Project Cars - N4 Second Career Renault Clio Cup Touring T500RS HD

The Renault Clio Cup is a one-make racing series created and managed by Renault Sport. As the name suggests, Renault Clio cars are used, and are grouped in 15 national championships and an International Cup.

Championships

Copa Clio Brasil, W Racing 2006 car
There are currently 15 national championships: Belgium, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

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
Main article: Renault Clio Cup United Kingdom
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 (since 2007).
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 to 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.

This years championship winner will be presented with a freshly restored Renault 5 GT Turbo, a winner's prize put forward by title sponsor Courier Connections to mark their 20th anniversary in business and the 40th anniversary of the Clio Cup

Other championships

2009 Renault Clio Cup in Motorland Aragón
Spain Copa Renault Clio España
Renault Sport Clio International Cup
China Clio Cup China
Belgium Renault Sport Clio Cup Belgium
Brazil Renault Clio Cup Brazil (since 2002?)
Mexico Clio Cup México (since 2003)
Denmark Renault DTC Light Cup Denmark (since 2004 as Renault Clio Cup Denmark, since 2010 as Renault DTC Light Cup)
Switzerland LO Renault New Clio Cup Suisse
Argentina Copa Megane Argentina (since 2000)
Netherlands Dunlop Sportmaxx / ID&T Clio cup Netherlands
Slovenia Renault Sport Clio Cup Slovenia
United Kingdom Michelin Clio Cup Series with Protyre (since 2013)[8]
Italy Clio Cup Italia
Other one-make racing with Renault cars
Renault Clio V6 Cup
Dacia Logan Cup
Defunct championships:

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)
Renault Super Clio Cup Brazil (2006)

The current car

2009 cars parked in Motorland Aragón paddock
Since 2008, the championship uses Renault Clio 197 with an F4R RS 2.0 litre engine.