RSS Share 06/06/2008
Back to school in a Clio 197

By Dan Trent

Maybe we started something by taking a bright yellow Megane R26 to the Nürburgring last year. Because it seems Renaultsport cars are gaining an ever bigger presence at the German circuit as more and more hardcore drivers learn the thrill of attacking the fearsome Nordschleife at the wheel of the best hot hatches money can buy.

It’s a trend picked up on by local company RSRNurburg, which has added the Clio 197 to its fleet of cars available to rent for use on the Nordschleife. Why the Clio? Because, as RSRNurburg instructor Dale Lomas explains “it was by far the best car for the job.”

But why rent a Clio when you can enjoy the circuit in your own car? Well, maybe your insurance company has joined the growing number adding the Nordschleife to its list of exclusions. Or perhaps it’s just more convenient to go out on a budget flight to one of the many airports surrounding the circuit. Either way, it’s nice to know you can indulge your Nürburgring fantasies at the wheel of one of Renault’s finest, courtesy of RSR.

Now Dale and his colleagues will rent you Clio 197 and leave you to it if that’s what you really want. But given the risks involved they prefer first time customers to have some training before being chucked the keys. Obviously this is brilliant if you’ve never driven the ‘ring before. But even if you reckon yourself as a bit of a ‘ringmeister you’ll learn a lot. How so? Well, no matter how well you think you know the track Dale and his colleagues know it better. And when it comes to getting the most fun out of driving on the ‘ring – and minimising the risk – knowledge is power.

It helps if you’ve got a good car too, and Dale is full of praise for the Clio 197. Better still, the Renault was chosen purely on merit. “We tried Lupos, Minis, Golfs – all sorts,” he says. “But the Clio was head and shoulders better.” You can see why too – a sharp, malleable chassis, great brakes and ability to soak up endless laps of the Nordschleife while being both entertaining and totally safe make it the ideal ‘ring rental.

You start the night before, with an informal dinner and briefing unlike you’ll have ever sat through before. Unlike UK trackdays there aren’t the usual rules about flags and suchlike but if you think the ‘ring is a free for all think again. Get it wrong and you could be prosecuted under German traffic law but there are plenty of tricks and tips Dale and his colleagues have learned over the years to help you stay out of trouble and get the most from your visit.

We cut straight to the chase and hop in our Clio Cup with Dale for a vital sighting lap around the circuit where he gets to point out the most significant landmarks and things to look out for. He also demonstrates why the Clio is such a good teaching aid, deliberately pitching it into corners too hard, on the brakes, on the kerbs and doing everything to try and provoke it into biting back. It doesn’t, and if you’re new to all this seeing how the car deals so benignly with extreme provocation is a massive confidence booster.

Dale’s a great teacher, but he’s also a natural show-off and breaks off the commentary at the big spectator points to indulge in some lairy lift-off oversteer to keep the crowds happy. With 6,000km on the ‘ring in his Clio Dale’s pretty familiar with its handling but this is the first time he’s driven a Cup and he’s impressed. “Pointy!” is his simple summary.

After a couple of laps we’re ready for the next step: convoy training. Dale leads in the 197 and we stick to his bumper like glue, all the while listening to his commentary over the radio headsets he’s given us. On a busy public session taking in the stream of detailed advice, acting on it and all the while keeping an eye on the bikes and cars sharing the track is incredibly demanding. Our second lap is quieter and much more effective for it – check out the video for the view from the hot seat!

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