Renault Twingo R1 EVO ready to race – Sports Cars
I wait to exit the bend before returning to throttle and try to straighten the steering as soon as possible so that I don't lose even one kilometer per hour of speed. For the uninitiated Renault Twingo R1 EVO this is a rally car and this is the car I drive now. It's a racing car, of course, but it's very close to a production car. The 0,9-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine has the power 128 CV and 5.500 weights and a couple From 215 Nm to 3.150 inputs... It is true, modest power, but considering that the original car has 90 hp. and 135 Nm of torque, and on the R1 only the exhaust and the control unit are modified, this is a good result. The thrust remains rear (like the engine), and the steering and gearbox are original, even if the latter has the shortest final gear.
All of this makes it easier to control the car, but makes it difficult to "slide", because whenever you are unsure about corners, you lose precious speed on the next straight. Braking is very powerful: the front discs and pads are enlarged and Removed ABS and brake booster. for better pedal feel. However, the latter remains relatively soft and for a couple of brakings, I get to the block a little bit to the limit. On the other hand, the rear brakes are drum brakes, because the regulation does not allow you to change the car so significantly. However, manual brake force distribution and a hydraulic parking brake were added. The list of changes continues with an FIA-approved 60-litre tank, full roll cage, seats and racing steering wheel with digital instrument cluster, composite copper clutch and custom 16-inch wheels with a 6,5-inch bore.
Rear-wheel drive, but not like
But back to me and my section of the road. A manual transmission on a racing car has always been a great satisfaction. It will also be less accurate, but certainly more fun. There Twingo R1, despite the presence of rear-wheel drive, glued to the back. No oversteer, no crossbar, just good grip. This gives you the confidence that you can push hard from the first few meters. It's a weird feeling: Everything says you're driving a front-wheel-drive subcompact, but when you enthusiastically hit a corner and insist on the gas, the front end doesn't flinch. The noise from the three-cylinder engine isn't exactly exciting, but it's nice to hear it mutter and rev; in this case the steering, being standard, is precise in the first few degrees, but becomes less instantaneous beyond the first quarter. But once you get used to it, it turns out that the Twingo is a light car and the most suitable car for those who decide to try their hand at this sport for the first time.
Dedicated to youth
In the 2016 season Renault Twingo R1 He drove kilometers in CIR, where he participated in 5 races, and also conducted 21 more rallies. 2.400 km of special stages, 6 wins in the R1 class, participation in the Targa Florio: he has come a long way.
Renault with EVO intends to replicate the success of this formula at a low cost, a formula designed primarily for young people.
In fact, the Renault Twingo R1 EVO is relatively cheap and also has very low maintenance costs (technicians guarantee that four tires will survive the entire Italian championship race). There Renault Twingo TCe 90 HP the standard price is 9.793 1.370 euros + VAT, but with a discount of 1 euro; while the R29.500A kit costs 2.000 € + VAT, but there is a discount of € XNUMX as part of the promotion. In practice, with less than 36.000 euro you take the Twingo R1 EVO home ready and ready.
