Now designed to tackle the harsh and punishing rally stages, Renault Sport Technologies has recently revealed new photos and information on their Clio Renaultsport R3T rally car. Scheduled to be launched in 2014, this new turbocharged rally machine was present at the recent Rallye du Var, the final round of the Renaultsport Rally Trophy season.
A successor to the Clio Renaultsport R3 launched back in 2006, the R3T is built to comply with FIA R3 regulations that include cars with performance comparable to Super 1600 cars at half the price. Renault Sport Technologies had sold 373 kits of the Clio Renaultsport R3, which was based on the previous generation of the Clio.
With the new Clio now out on the streets, Renault is now on the way in developing a new R3 car. The new version is called the Clio Renaultsport R3T, due to the turbo engine it carries. Similar to the Clio Cup racer, the Clio R3T is based on the road-going Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo EDC that features a 1.6-liter turbocharged power plant.
“With the Clio Renaultsport R3T, our aim has been to come up with a high-performance, reliable vehicle adaptable to every type of surface, all for an operating cost below that of a product it replaces”, said Renault Sport Technologies Motorsport Director Arnaud Boulanger.
“Put through its paces by several drivers, the Clio Renaultsport R3T will be tested for more than ten weeks on dirt and tarmac with a view to identifying the best options”, he added.
