Clio Williams Maxi
 |
 | This article contains promotional content. (November 2011) |
| Renault Clio Williams MAXI | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Renault Sport |
| Production | 1995-1996 with later evolutions |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Rally car |
| Body style | 3-door hatchback |
| Related | Renault Mégane Maxi Peugeot 106 Maxi Citroen ZX Maxi Seat Ibiza Kit car Fiat Punto Kit car |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.0 L Naturally-aspirated I4 |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual or 7-speed sequential |
Clio Williams Maxi was a factory evolution of Clio Williams Gr.A rally car introduced in early 1995 under kit-car rules (Gr.A7K). It was used to represent the brand in various national championships as in France Rally Championship in the hands of Philippe Bugalski and Jean Ragnotti and in Belgium with Bernard Munster. Most notable exterior differences are wider wheel arches to accommodate bigger wheels and wider track, different front and rear bumpers and carbon fibre rear wing.
Other exterior differences are another bonnet vent for dissipating heat from the engine bay and fuel cap in different location. Most commonly used rims were Speedline 2012 Acropoli Due) and Speedline 2010 (used mostly on the front wheels). Rims were of magnesium and were 16' (or even 15') for gravel and 17' for tarmac stages.
Suspension was made by Proflex and track was widened to 1590mm. Maxi had much thicker anti-roll bars (up to 35mm for tarmac stages). Hubs were made of aluminium and were bespoke items. Rear beam was also modified with thicker ARB and allowed different camber and toe settings.
Brakes were made by Alcon. Front discs were on aluminium bells and were 332mm in diameter with 4 pot Alcon calipers. Rear discs were 266mm in diameter with 2 pot Alcon calipers.
Cage and shell reinforcement were done by Matter France.
Engine was tuned by Sodemo and produced around 250 hp in early evolutions (around 275 hp for last evolutions with destroked engine). Main difference to the Gr.A car was the use of individual throttle bodies and even wilder cams. Other differences include modified head for improved gas flow and modified block for better cooling. Extremely wild cams with maximum lift up to 15mm required the use of solid lifters and titanium valves, springs and retainers. Pistons and rods were made by Pankl. Pistons were a forged "slipper" design and rods were forged H section with custom 150mm length to compensate for different piston compression height. Compression ratio was 12.5:1 and ran on special racing fuel. Exhaust manifold was a 4-2-1 design and was made from Inconel alloy. Clutch was made by AP Racing.
Transmission was either a 6-speed Sadev manual or 7-speed RST Hewland sequential gearbox. Clio Maxi was one of the first if not the first rally car with sequential gearbox.
Interior featured instrument panel made by Stack and Magnetti Marelli, seats were made by Sabelt or Sparco. By 1996 when Clio Williams Maxi successor came out (Megane Maxi), 50 cars were made.