197 from Portugal - starter kit

[EnDeAvOuR]

Hello all,

Just got my Clio 197 '06 model to replace a track-day car I owned (other brand) and got tired of it.
The plan for this new car is to make it capable of going to circuit for fun, but still be driven on public roads.

I know I have a lot to read here, but would like your help on setting the starter kit on my car.

What it already had when I got it:

18" wheels Hunter brand and lightweight
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires
Brembo HP2000 front brake pads
Ramair air filter
Scorpion exaust without center muffler
HR lowering springs with CUP(?) shock absorvers

Need to service it, in order to use it without any fear.

Plan is:

Original oil filter
Motul 300V 5W-40
Castrol SRF brake oil with
Hell braided brake lines

Need some advice on intake to use. Would go for the ITG intake but my car is LHD. Do you believe the fitting is possible with some small adjustments?

Will upgrade to DS2500 brake pads as these will be gone. Is this OK or you have better option?

Any good option on spark plugs that are a good fitting on this engine?

Should I keep the 18" or better find a set of 17" rims?

I have the blue HR springs. Any better option still capable of daily use?

What gearbox oil you recommend? It shifts like butter and want to keep it that way.

Thank you all for any help you can provide me.

Cheers from Portugal

 

[Grinchly]

Welcome!

I use my 200 in a similar manner, a few Trackdays a year but still drive it on the road.

I can't speak for any suspension or wheel changes as mine is still stock, but I use the DS2500 pads and they are great on the road and the track.

They do start to get too warm if you're constantly on it as you get to the end of the pads life but I was still able to get 20-25 mins before they got too hot at my last trackday.

They are fine on the road but can get too cold in the UK winter, so I swap them out for the OEM Brembo pads.

As for gearbox oil, use the standard Castrol stuff. I had a recent gearbox rebuild and the specialist that sorted it for me suspects that the oil I had in before could have been a factor in it failing.

Go OEM for the Spark plugs - NGK PFR7Z-TG

As you're tracking it I would say only change from the standard air box to something that has an enclosed intake like the standard system into the intake as a lot of the aftermarket intakes on these cars are vulnerable to heatsoak as it's near the exhaust manifold.

I'm wanting to fit this one myself

 

[burrellbloke]

I would go for a set of 17 inch wheels as the suspension can compress a lot on track days and rub your front arches/front bumper.

Also, it would be a good idea to think about some brake ducts so that you have some extra brake cooling.

 

[EnDeAvOuR]

Thank you so much!

I will surely go for DS2500, but gonna take this first track-day to enjoy the car and plan future upgrades.
The plan is to go gently with the car and check it's limits.
(I used to own a 106 GTi fully prepared for track)

Weather here in Portugal is not that cold so I gess I will use DS2500 all the time. Other option was DS 1.11 but I gess it's two noisy for road use.

I will also go for standard gearbox oil and spark plugs.

As for the intake, that one looks amazing and within what I want to have. But the issue is that my car is LHD and almost all decent intake kits are only suitable for RHD.

Any thoughts on how difficult might be the fitting on a LHD?

 

[peter]

Other option was DS 1.11 but I gess it's two noisy for road use.

Used them for years. Brilliant pad and much better than DS2500's. Also no extra noise on the road.

 

[EnDeAvOuR]

Used them for years. Brilliant pad and much better than DS2500's. Also no extra noise on the road.

Really? I was really expecting them to be very noisy on low temperatures.

I am really used to DS2500 on my previous 106 GTi, as the worked flawless on track. But the car was really light as it was all stripped on inside and not even street legal.

Perhaps the extra weight on the 197 might create additional difficulties on braking and I can imagine the DS2500 will have a hard time for braking the car.

I will take that into consideration, as the car will only be used on road very ocasionaly.

Thank you so much for your feedback!

 

[JSD]

Imo ds2500 don't last long if you are pushing on track.

Ds 1.11 on the other hand seems to wear the discs quicker than the pads. But they do make a lot of noise on the road during winter.

Winmax 5-6.5 would be my go to. Currently have 6.5 on line and the stopping power is immense but they don't wear as well as the lower #s.