500th And Final Clio Renaultsport 197 F1 Team R27 Rolls Off The Production Line

Clio Renaultsport 197 F1 Team R27 in Glacier White / Renault

Renault fan gets dream car

By Thami Masemola
January 23, 2008 12:47 PM
Filed Under: European, General, Renault

A dream has come true for one lucky Renault fan whose dream car was handed over to him in memory of a lost friend. The special Clio Renaultsport 197 F1 Team R27 – not sure how they manage to remember all this themselves – was the last of 500 limited-edition units produced for the UK, particularly for those who enjoy their track days.

The car, launched last April, features Renault’s new Cup chassis for a stiffer, sportier ride with matching stiff dampering. Owner of number 500 James Brookes is an avid fan of the French marque and his circle of friends and family are all owners of Renault. His late brother Will, who passed away in an accident, was among them, and this car is dedicated to him. Brookes asked Renaultsport, through their website’s community portal, if they could produce this in the once-off colour Glacier White. They duly agreed.

A great gesture from Renault indeed.

Source: Renault

Press Release (Click to expand)

The final Clio Renaultsport 197 F1 Team R27 has been produced at the Renaultsport factory at Dieppe in Northern France. This unique car was the last produced in the limited edition production and produced in the one-off colour of Glacier White.

The limited-edition Clio Renaultsport 197 F1 Team R27 was launched in April and featured the new Cup chassis setting with a lowered ride height and stiffer springs and dampers. Just 500 were produced for the UK market. The Cup chassis is now available on the recently-launched Clio Renaultsport 197 Cup and is also available as an option on the standard version.

Number 500 has gone to a very special home following an approach to Renault through the Community section of Renaultsport.co.uk. The website features all you could wish to know about the world of Renaultsport road and competition cars. The passionate owners have a forum in the Community section where lively debates take place and information is shared. Through this, Renault organises competitions, trackdays at home and abroad plus visits to the Renaultsport factory at Dieppe.

James Brookes is a keen owner of a Clio Renaultsport 172 Cup and wanted a 197 F1 Team R27. His family were all passionate Renaultsport enthusiasts; his brother Will with a Clio and his father Steve working at the Renault Dealership Wests of Bedford. Tragically Will passed away in an accident in September and David Lee, a friend of the family, approached Renault through the Community section to see if a one-off car could be produced for James in memory of his brother. Renaultsport was pleased to help and the very last R27 was built in the one-off colour.

The Clio for James is being delivered this month though Wests of Bedford. James said, “I am overwhelmed by all the support that has been given to make this happen and would like to say special thanks to all at Renault. In particular, I’d like to say thank you to my friend David Lee who put the idea to Renault in the first place. This is a very special car, built in memory of a very special person and it will be enjoyed as he would have wished.”