Clubsport Megane 250 Cup

[RS_Rowe]

Just joined up today, previously been mega into the Ford scene, but jumped ship in 2018 when I purchased my first Renaultsport, a 197.
That car transformed quite alot over the years, but I was getting a little tired of having something SO track focussed. Just posting pics of it now does make me feel a little sad that it's gone tbh!







But anyhow! The Clio sold just after Christmas for 3 times what I paid for it originally. Obviously I won't of come close to getting back the money I'd put into it over the years, but cars aren't about that. I think I've done probably 40 or so trackdays in it over my ownership, and numerous trips over to the ring, all without any major breakdowns. In-fact, I can only think of one time where I had to cut a day short, and it was due to running out of tyres.

With the Clio gone, this opened the door for it's replacement.....








A Mk3 250 Cup. I've not really too much planned at the moment, but I do need to get the seats out of it and fit something more suitably sized.
Also needs a pair of tyres and some rear pads.

Donington booked for this Sunday, which I'm properly excited for!
It's going to be interesting to see how it compares to the 197

 

[andybond]

t's going to be interesting to see how it compares to the 197

Different beasts. Very different!

 

[RS_Rowe]

Different beasts. Very different!

Obviously, aside from the engine, it certainly drives alot different on the road.
That could well be Gaz Golds set up for track, vs Clubsports though.

 

[andybond]

Wider wheelbase / longer too

 

[RS_Rowe]

Indeed! Although not as much as you’d think looking at both of them in isolation.

It’s only when parked next to each other you realise what a beast the Clios are

 

[Sir jake the brit]

Having got both, I've always preferred the Mégane to the Clio, think it's with them being a bit wider, my good lady loves the Clio. Both are corkers on track for different reasons.

Hope you enjoy it.

 

[DaveL485]

Interested to see how you get on, I went from a MK3 Clio to a MK3 Meg 250, and I didnt bond with it (although I didnt mind so much as I used it as an excuse to get a MK4 220 Trophy haha)

 

[Ian_R]

I've went from the MK2 Megane up to the MK3, and to me its night and day, just a nicer place to be, i highly doubt i'll ever have it on a track, but feels sorted on a blast, i've compared it going from a MK2 Clio up to a MK3.

Look forward to the progress

 

[RS_Rowe]

Interested to see how you get on, I went from a MK3 Clio to a MK3 Meg 250, and I didnt bond with it (although I didnt mind so much as I used it as an excuse to get a MK4 220 Trophy haha)

I’m really enjoying it so far, but yeah I guess only time will tell.
It’s nice having something which is still bearable on the roads. The Clio was noisy, stiff, and gutless.

 

[Aldo]

I've had my 250 for nearly 3 years now and it's been one of my favourite cars. It's unfortunately turned into a bit of a garage queen which is making me toy with selling it.

It's also at the top of the maintenance cost leaderboard

 

[RS_Rowe]

I’m hoping to avoid any big repair bills for a brief while, although saying that, I did get a ‘low boost’ fault the other morning

My Clio was a proper garage tart. It never came out other than for trackdays.

 

[Aldo]

I’m hoping to avoid any big repair bills for a brief while, although saying that, I did get a ‘low boost’ fault the other morning

My Clio was a proper garage tart. It never came out other than for trackdays.

That flagged up on mine the other week actually

 

[RS_Rowe]

With a trackday booked for Sunday, and me always being very prepared, Saturday morning I decided to do a few maintenance bits on the car.
I always do an oil and filter change on every car I buy. I'm glad I did in this instance, as it was black, stunk of petrol, and was like water.....



I knew I'd also had a rear calliper seized on at one point, as the wheel was solid when I came to drive it at the start of the week. I knocked the handbrake lever back on the calliper, and just avoided using it until I got some new pads. In hindsight, I probably should of ordered a new calliper, as I came to change the pads and it wouldn't budge. I managed to bend my wind back tool, so had to crack out the big grips.

I got the car loaded up on the trailer, which wasn't a very easy task with no watcher, no handbrake, and a trailer barely wide enough to fit the Megane on anyway. I had intended on driving the car there, but was meeting a couple of guys there to sell some of the parts from my old Clio hoard.



Sunday saw a bit of an early wake up, and a trip over to Donington for a day there with Circuit Days doing the GP layout. The weather was pretty grim on arrival, which I was more than happy about given I only had my road tyres. I really enjoy wet days, as it properly levels the playing field with the more powerful cars.

I got it unloaded off the trailer, did the sighting laps, and eagerly queued in the pit lane ready to be let out on track. Donington has recently been resurfaced, and even though it was damp, there seemed to be quite alot of grip. It took me a good few laps to start getting comfortable in the car.
In the Clio, it's very much flat out 90% of the lap, where you have to put little thought into braking points, as you aren't actually travelling that fast - the Megane obviously a bit different to that.

My first impressions, is the car feels rapid and is alot more refined that the Clio was. The Clubsports feel fantastic, but my only gripe is the Pagid RSL29 pads - I will definitely be changing these!







Overall, the day went pretty well, though it wasn't without issues.

A couple of hours in, I noticed a clunk on the front left when coming on and off the throttle. My first thought was the upper gearbox mount, which I believe to be quite a common issue on the Meganes. I set about ripping the battery tray out, but found that the pin was still tight. I then thought it could be driveshaft related, so pulled the car into the garage and set about removing the wheels. Upon undoing the wheel nuts, the N/S ones were barely tight, and having removed the wheel, I noticed that the screw in studs were loose with no loctite on them. I removed them, checked all the threads, and refitted them (i'll refit them properly once i've ordered some new ones).

I had a great few laps with my friend chasing me in his 197, obviously every straight the Megane just pulled clear, but under braking and cornering, he was right there welded to my bumper. Hopefully he got some good footage of it, which will no doubt look really slow and boring.

I also noticed that both driveshafts have leaking boots, so I think I'll replace both shafts unless I can find a genuine boot kit. The rear calliper I mentioned before, and then there's the stuff which I don't need to do, but will..... Front pads, discs, a fluid change, and another set of wheels with some semis on.

 

[andybond]

Love Donington as a circuit. You dont half do shakedown runs the hard way. Buy it , track it!

 

[RS_Rowe]

'tis a great track.

I've got the ring booked for the end of June, so need to test the car hard to make sure everything is ok.
I've just enquired about a check-up at EFI, just to make sure the map that's on it is safe for some track use. A little snippet from my mate's camera.



I do hang my head in shame a little, as the camera car is only a Clio 197. He really murders me under braking and corner speed!
That'll be rectified soon when I've hand chance to buy some semi slicks

 

[andybond]

You need to compare the suspension setup and tyres between your cars

 

[RS_Rowe]

Trip up to EFI to make sure the maps ‘safe’.

Bit of a booking cock up, as I was originally meant to be on the dyno at 5, but had to wait for the guys before who’d come down from Durham. Oh well, these things happen!

Chris was fairly happy with the map. Fuel is ok, but quite a lot of timing down low which was verging on knock. A bunch of torque missing in the mid range, and a boost request more than the standard turbo would ever do…. So I’ve got it booked in for next week for one of his maps.

Looking forward to a comparison graph

 

[Ian_R]

I'll be heading there soon hopefully - got the MK2 done with Chris & EFi, such an easy guy to deal with, and just a nice guy all round.

 

[RS_Rowe]

Yeah he’s a great chap. He’s done all my mates Clios too…. Though it’s mostly pointless on the F4R

 

[RS_Rowe]

Not too much of an interesting update, but Chris tuned the car for me yesterday.
Was quiet there for once, so had a really good chat with him.





The previous map was ‘safe’, but also missing a fair chunk of torque throughout the mid range.
As you can see, there’s a bit of a difference lower down, but this is more down to how Chris makes them smoother lower down.

The collection of parts is adding up too…. Just need a weekend where the misses gives me permission to do it.