2012 clio 3RS RB7 #166

[peter]

Speaking of Le Mans, we were on the finish line last year when they broke down. We had seen them getting the Japanese flag ready behind the podium less than a minute earlier. Incredible scenes. Never seen a hundred thousand people absolutely stunned into silence like that ever.

wow. lifetime highlight for sure.

I really don't like the sandbagging though. Ford effectively cheated in my eyes last year at Le Mans.

agree. i still believe the 2016 GTE results were staged by the ACO. they went for the hollywood story of ford winning again after fifty years. besides, that ford GT ... isn't really a GT, is it? from the moment i saw the first pictures of that car, i really thought they'd killed the GTE class. good to see the other manufacturers responded and BoP did the rest of course.

i think, the biggest shortcoming of the WEC is the importance of the le mans race and the power it gives to the ACO. porsche were even willing to compromise the results of the first two races of the season (silverstone and spa), by running in low downforce configuration. they were just using those races as test sessions. it'll be the first time this season, they'll run in high downforce config this weekend at the nürburgring. manufacturers know only too well the general public rates the 24h over the world championship, effectively devaluating the championship.

It sounds a bit pompous doesn't it but most people who are into WEC seem to be more fans of the whole thing rather than gung-ho supporting a team or driver.

it's the team effort i appreciate. i feel it's less macho driven than F1. dr.ulrich congratulating peugeot or porsche after a win and vice versa. or the porsche guys genuinely feeling distressed after toyota's misfortune last year. that sort of thing you know.

 

[///M]

Highlight wise, it's right up there, but I do have one that is better!

Agree something not right was going on with GTE last year. It was all just too much. Besides, it wasn't even a car then. How is that ok. Renault may as well enter the RS:01 anyway! Oh and personally, I don't care what's in there as long as it looks good. Which they all do so much.

And also agree with all your thoughts about LMP1. Hopefully things are going to get better now with a few interesting new manufacturers looking at getting involved. Didn't like the Porsche quit rumours though!

As for your last point, you've highlighted the biggest difference between F1 and WEC for me. It still feels like a sport. Played out in a sporting fashion by human beings, not some big corporate machine. I know that's probably over romanticising it a bit but it just feels so much a better atmosphere.

Sorry mate, totally derailed your build thread with WEC banter.

 

[peter]

Sorry mate, totally derailed your build thread with WEC banter.

don't mind at all, mes. the thread is just an excuse to talk about racing anyway.

 

[peter]

forgot two things ...

Awesome photo mate, and love your latest mod

. the stickers i got with my gold membership, came unstuck. both. that pointy piece where the two is cut out, came loose. think i'll order some white ones from the shop and try to remember not to get too excited scubbing off the bugs from the windshield. they are the same size as the ones which come with the memberships, right?

. bought two sets of ferodo DS1.11 brake pads from matt here on the forum. great price, delivery was quick and matt was very patient dealing with a customer who didn't want to pay for the exorbitant exchange rate paypal thinks it needs to charge. so, thanks again ... @trackspec197

 

[Chris]

forgot two things ...



. the stickers i got with my gold membership, came unstuck. both. that pointy piece where the two is cut out, came loose. think i'll order some white ones from the shop and try to remember not to get too excited scubbing off the bugs from the windshield. they are the same size as the ones which come with the memberships, right?

Yeah they are mate! Not had an issues with stickers myself, and I've put several on my cars. Just make sure it's clean and dry.

 

[peter]

Yeah they are mate! Not had an issues with stickers myself, and I've put several on my cars. Just make sure it's clean and dry.

cheers chris.

 

[peter]

@sevenfourate ... michelin cup 2 update (for photos go to post #52) ...

after an initial quick response to my first email back in october 2016, michelin went schtum. i tried to contact them again in april 2017, still no reply. in that first (and only answer) from michelin, they asked me to drop the tyres off at the tyre dealer where i bought them (got them together with the white braid track wheels). that's exactly what i did.

i bent a wheel during a trackday (my fault, too eager ... ) some time ago, so had to order a new one and my tyre guy tells me he never heard from michelin regarding my tyres. didn't want my tyres hanging around his place, so picked them up last saturday after i ordered a new wheel.

back home and nothing better to do, i sent michelin another email (through their customer service center), telling them i was very disappointed in the way they handled this whole affair. within half an hour i got a reply saying they were sorry to hear about my complaint and after another couple of mails they (in fact it was a 'she' and her name is 'elise' ...) said that the main problem was, that the place where i bought the tyres isn't registered as an official michelin dealer. then they mailed me two addresses of official michelin dealers only ten kilometers from where i live and if i was willing to drop them off (once again) at one of those dealers. that's what i'm going to do next saturday.

now, it was never my intention to get a new set (highly unlikely anyway over here) and i know they will crawl under a stone when i mention they were used on track, but i was and still am curious to what the cause is of those cracks.

 

[sevenfourate]

@sevenfourate ... michelin cup 2 update (for photo go to post #52) ...

after an initial quick response to my first email back in october 2016, michelin went schtum. i tried to contact them again in april 2017, still no reply. in that first (and only answer) from michelin, they asked me to drop the tyres off at the tyre dealer where i bought them (got them together with the white braid track wheels). that's exactly what i did.

i bent a wheel during a trackday (my fault, too eager ... ) some time ago, so had to order a new one and my tyre guy tells me he never heard from michelin regarding my tyres. didn't want my tyres hanging around his place, so picked them up last saturday after i ordered a new wheel.

back home and nothing better to do, i sent michelin another email (through their customer service center), telling them i was very disappointed in the way they handled this whole affair. within half an hour i got a reply saying they were sorry to hear about my complaint and after another couple of mails they (in fact it was a 'she' and her name is 'elise' ...) said that the main problem was, that the place where i bought the tyres isn't registered as an official michelin dealer. then they mailed me two addresses of official michelin dealers only ten kilometers from where i live and if i was willing to drop them off (once again) at one of those dealers. that's what i'm going to do next saturday.

now, it was never my intention to get a new set (highly unlikely anyway over here) and i know they will crawl under a stone when i mention they were used on track, but i was and still am curious to what the cause is of those cracks.

These are road legal 'track' tyres yes. (?) So hardly out of their scope of usage.

IF they try to wriggle out of this - i almost never wanna buy a Michelin again in my life. And i'm not even an avid fan / user !

Seen any other tyres do this ? Tyres marketed as track or not ? No. Thought not

***Will be really interesting to hear their reasonings Peter




BTW: This is the very first blurb on them i found:

Product description & features for Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2

• Slower wear of the outer shoulder ****Really !!!
• Improved safety on wet roads
• Precise steering and driving control

The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 is a high performance tyre, developed from the experience gained from endurance competitions.

Michelin's Pilot Sport Cup 2 is a tyre designed for the track ****(Take note Peter), and approved for road use.

 

[peter]

These are road legal 'track' tyres yes. (?) So hardly out of their scope of usage.

IF they try to wriggle out of this - i almost never wanna buy a Michelin again in my life. And i'm not even an avid fan / user !

Seen any other tyres do this ? Tyres marketed as track or not ? No. Thought not

***Will be really interesting to hear their reasonings Peter




BTW: This is the very first blurb on them i found:

Product description & features for Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2

• Slower wear of the outer shoulder ****Really !!!
• Improved safety on wet roads
• Precise steering and driving control

The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 is a high performance tyre, developed from the experience gained from endurance competitions.

Michelin's Pilot Sport Cup 2 is a tyre designed for the track ****(Take note Peter), and approved for road use.

yup, i know syer. 'designed for track'. that's the reason i bought them. and because michelin is supposed to be a quality brand. and because the cup 2's are factory fitted on a lot of performance cars (GT3, GT4, AMG GTR, M4 GTS and so on). and tbh they performed brilliantly before chunks of rubber came flying off. maybe quality control on the lesser diameter tyres isn't as high as on the 19 and 20 inch tyres? would surprise me though.

no, i'm not keen on buying michelins again. got the pilot super sports on the raider wheels. no complaints so far, but when they're shot i'm going for continental SC6's or somehing similar. and for track, the yoko AD08R i find even better than the cup 2 (and a lot less expensive over here).

 

[Yellow Clio]

+1 for the AD08R's, a great bit of kit with a proper motorsport tyre feel. A bit crashy for road use compared to MPSS's or Conti's but they give loads of grip compared to the other tyres mentioned...

 

[Yellow Clio]

I had been thinking of a set of Cup 2's next time, not any more!!! In fact really surprised by this lack of quality from what is supposed to be one of THE premium tyre brands!..

 

[peter]

In fact really surprised by this lack of quality from what is supposed to be one of THE premium tyre brands!

exactly. most surprising.
really curious to the tyre dealer's reaction, when i show them my tyres next saturday.

 

[peter]

... next saturday.

will be next week's saturday ...



took the car to mettet last wednesday. was good to drive it on track again. first two sessions in the dry, one in the wet and one in mixed conditions. always a pleasure to harass the big guns when they can't put their power down. but also a little frustrating when, in the dry, they come speeding past on the straights and then hold you up in the corners. so, can fully understand why a lot of you guys meg your clios.

two pics to share. one before the storm and one after. the latter one, just to give @///M an idea on how to decorate a lotus.





those things were really fast. well driven too. great sight seeing them on track together.

 

[Big Ben]

Sorry if it's been mentioned but are you using AD08R's on track Peter?
How'd you find them in damp conditions?

Did you think the ds1.11 were much better than previous pads?

 

[peter]

Sorry if it's been mentioned but are you using AD08R's on track Peter?
How'd you find them in damp conditions?

Did you think the ds1.11 were much better than previous pads?

yes, AD08R's on track. tbh ben, i don't have much experience of high performance tyres. only had michelin cup 2's before the yoko's. rated the cup 2's (until i had them replaced and they came of the rims like in post #52), but found the yoko's even better. with the yoko's, the clio felt even more stable at the back in really fast corners and under braking. in fact, they give me so much confidence in the car, that i can take spa's 'eau rouge and 'raidillon' corners flat. no lifting. true adrenaline kick.

the AD08R's are at least on a par with the cup 2's in the wet also. better than any road tyre as well. it only gets lairy in a heavy downpour or when driving through standing water. once you get a bit of heat in them, they perform just great. price/performance wise the yoko's are hard to beat.

the DS1.11 perform brilliantly on track. better to modulate than the galfer FDRT1066 (similar pad) and much better endurance than the DS2500's, i had before the galfers. i have endless RF650 brake fluid in the car this year. together with the DS1.11's an unbeatable combo. the last time at spa, my brother just couldn't believe i could hammer the brakes lap after lap.

 

[Big Ben]

yes, AD08R's on track. tbh ben, i don't have much experience of high performance tyres. only had michelin cup 2's before the yoko's. rated the cup 2's (until i had them replaced and they came of the rims like in post #52), but found the yoko's even better. with the yoko's, the clio felt even more stable at the back in really fast corners and under braking. in fact, they give me so much confidence in the car, that i can take spa's 'eau rouge and 'raidillon' corners flat. no lifting. true adrenaline kick.

the AD08R's are at least on a par with the cup 2's in the wet also. better than any road tyre as well. it only gets lairy in a heavy downpour or when driving through standing water. once you get a bit of heat in them, they perform just great. price/performance wise the yoko's are hard to beat.

the DS1.11 perform brilliantly on track. better to modulate than the galfer FDRT1066 (similar pad) and much better endurance than the DS2500's, i had before the galfers. i have endless RF650 brake fluid in the car this year. together with the DS1.11's an unbeatable combo. the last time at spa, my brother just couldn't believe i could hammer the brakes lap after lap.

Thanks Peter for that detailed reply. Particularly like the comment about 'flat out' at Spa
Pretty much confirms what I expected. Will look into the ds1.11 to replace my ds2500 at the front.
Do you run ds1.11 at the back?

 

[peter]

Do you run ds1.11 at the back?

no, i still run the galfer FDRT1066's at the back (got them together with the fronts). they hardly wear. think i'm going to put DS2500's at the back when they're done.

regarding the DS1.11, they really need some temp in them to perform at their maximum. wouldn't use them on a car which isn't used on track.

 

[peter]

there was some fine machinery at mettet and being a hot hatch fan, a blue mini (R53) caught my attention. went pretty well on track (whenever it ran) and the supercharger was a real screamer. so, i had a closer look at it in the paddock. car was fully stripped, caged, buckets, six-point harness, öhlins suspension and AP racing brake set up. great set up, right? and then i wanted to know what tyres were on the car ... toyo R888R. cool. first had a look on the left side and this is what i saw on the right side ...



can't be right, can it? these R888R's are directional, so these are the wrong way round.

 

[peter]

same guys also brought this with them ...



which went absolutely bonkers in the corners.

 

[///M]

Great pics Peter. I love that last one of the Mini!

Are those RSR Exiges? They look to have similar livery...