Description:

• Ex-John Keaney Dunlop Irish Touring Car Championship Clio

• Uprated to full ‘Williams’ specification with Harlow Motorsport in period

• Lightly used since its restoration completed in 2015 and must be seen to be appreciated

Introduced in 1991, Renault kicked off its hot Clio dynasty with the formidable 1.8-litre, 137hp Clio 16V. This model boasted broader front wings and rear arches, enhanced suspension, and beefier brakes, solidifying its status as a true pocket rocket. Zooming to a top speed of 130 mph and hitting 62mph in just eight seconds, it set a thrilling pace.

However, its reign at the summit of the Clio hierarchy was brief. Enter the Renault Clio Williams in 1993, a homologation car designed to pave the way for Renault's racing endeavours. To meet the requirements for rallying across classes A to N, Renault needed to produce 2500 road cars to qualify, although it would eventually build many more. Renault aimed to shine in the up to 2,000cc class, but their existing line up maxed out at 1.8 litres (the 16v model). The already impressive 1.8-litre 16v engine was modified by elongating the stroke and enlarging the bore to increase the capacity to 2,000cc. The addition of a sturdier camshaft from the Clio diesel, alongside new pistons, conrods, larger valves, and a lightweight exhaust manifold, pushed the little car's output to nearly 150bhp.

First manufactured in 1992 as a Clio 1.8 16v, this particular example was professionally built as a race car between 1992 and 1994. Little is known of its early life, but with a stronger weld-in case through to the front suspension turrets, the car was built to a much more robust standard than to Clio Cup Championship specification.

3 years later, the car would be purchased and brought to the Republic of Ireland by well-respected and seasoned racer John Keaney. At that time, the pinnacle class was for cars up to and including 2,000cc in Group N specification within the Dunlop Irish Touring Car Championship. The car ran for a season in its 1.8 guise, before John embarked on a full ‘Williams’ upgrade with Harlow Motorsport, well-respected Touring Car specialists and the ‘go to’ people for Renault 5 Coupes and latterly Clio Elf Cup cars.

The upgrade included a fully blue printed 2.0lt (F7R) engine, exhaust manifold and system, JC5 gearbox, stronger subframe, larger anti-roll bars and better suspension. The car was used until 1998 when the class structure was changed and the Clio was no longer eligible.

Following its retirement, the Clio was dry stored along with some of John’s other redundant race cars until it was purchased by the current owner in 2014 directly from him. Over the following 12 months, the car was fully recommissioned and restored, including a full interior and exterior respray in French Racing Blue with White interior, before being used for a handful of track days. For the next 2 seasons, the car was then campaigned in the Northern Ireland Sprint Championship, coming second in class in 2016 and winning its class in 2017. It was used for a handful of Sprint events throughout 2018 and 2019 but has been stored since. Still presenting as if the restoration has just been completed, this is truly a car that needs to be seen to be appreciated.

Full specification:

2.0lt F7R Blue printed engine

Four branch manifold

Oreca stainless steel exhaust

JC5 gearbox with Avanti maxi inner CV joints and LSD

Matter multipoint weld in roll cage

Proflex suspension, front and rear.

Tweaked rear beam for camber and alignment

Willwood upgrade front brakes-standard rears

AP Racing brake bias valve

Lightweight Carbon/Kevlar Recaro Spa bucket seat

Sabelt 3” safety harness

Sabelt fire extinguisher

Lightweight door cards

Renault Sport/Sabelt steering wheel

Stack independent oil pressure gauge

Period correct grille, mirrors, badging and quarterlight windows

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