One things been really bothering me though – the 2nd hand Jenvey setup came with some really old disgusting sock filters. I hated them and they were falling apart so I started looking for a better alternative.

I found a company called Reverie who make carbon back boxes for the Pipercross sausage filters – but these back boxes can also use a full carbon airbox which is what I want eventually.

While I was at autosport international I bumped into the owner of Reverie and had a good luck at the kit and eventually handed some cash over and came home with a back plate.

I ordered a sausage filter from Burton Power which turned up next day and I set about fitting them. Was very nervous cutting carbon fibre but all went well! I even cut a little hole in the box for the air temp sensor which tidies the install up a treat.

I bought a stereo blanking plate off ebay and trimmed it down, fitted the gauges into that – I think they look spot on.

For the aerocatches I actually got a 2nd hand scrap bonnet and used that to cut and measure up until I was 100% happy with how they fit – then I made stencils of it and cut the same holes into my bonnet. It’s a very tricky job and took me and Leah most of the afternoon – but the results speak for themselves!

I’ve also tidied up the loom for the Omex 600 and put my brave face on and chopped out all the old renault loom for the engine. Luckily it all still ran afterwards

You can see in the photos the wiring distributor block for the battery in the boot of the car – and the fuses for the omex etc..

I also fitted an Innovate LC-1 wideband controller and put a gauge on the dashboard for it, so I can keep an eye on the fuelling while on track.

I did something a little impulsive recently – I bought a set of Jenvey Throttle Bodies (ITB’s) for the Clio.
I’ve decided over winter to keep the Clio off the road and up it’s power output a bit with some serious tinkering

I think Anglesey is now my new favourite track – there’s a lovely fast back section, lots of technical tight corners and the way the track climbs and dips remind me of the nurburgring. I will definitely be going back there again next year!

The car went brilliantly. It’s still understeering a little bit but at lunch time I had a play with the rear ARB and stiffened it up some more – it seemed to help the initial turn in. I’m also still running quite badly worn uniroyal rainsports which just aren’t any good on track. Next year I’ll be getting R1R’s or A048′s

Anyway here’s a few videos from the day – first one is me finally getting to have a play with a good mate of mine Mark Thorp in his throttle bodied AX. We’ve been joking about going at it on track for years and years but never managed to do it. Was brilliant to finally have a little battle on track

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

And another quick video playing with Titch in his MX5 and Ben in his 306 Rallye

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

This was my first track day since the cage had been installed, and I also took the car for a geometry setup before hand – which showed my front wheels had a lot of toe out from the DIY camber adjustments (woops).

The handling was transformed, the car feels so much more planted – I loved every minute of it!!

I also got to drive one of the new Megane RS250′s which was different. I can’t say I like the electric steering – it makes you feel very disconnected from the road – but it was certainly quick in a straight line!!

Here’s a few videos

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

I drove down to gloucester to buy an OMP roll cage from a lad on ClioSport. It was originally a 6 point OMP cage with a single diagonal bar in the back but it has been modified to now have a full cross with harness bars. Got it for a bargain price but the platforms to weld into the car had seen better days.

Got the car booked in at FrenchSport Tuning and the lads did a superb job as per usual.
They cleaned up the platforms and re-welded them to neaten them up, then welded them into the car.
The cage was then bolted in with high tensile bolts. Took 8 hours and it looks superb.

I’ll let the pictures do the talking

I stripped it all out last week and found the alarm wiring all loose behind it – which was causing the rattling noise as the cables vibrated against the plastic. I also found that the heater control cables had snapped and had been badly bodged together (which is why I’ve never been able to select the demister function!!)

So I went for a drive to ClioSpares and picked up a new lower dashboard for a bargain £40 along with 2 heater control cables. Highly recommend them for parts, Josh is a top bloke to deal with!

While the dash was out I binned the passenger airbag – reprogrammed the airbag ecu to turn the warning lights off – tidied up all the factory wiring so nothing rattled about (where would we be without cable ties eh? ) and removed ALL the sound deadening.
6kg of sound deadening and a 2kg air bag binned – I think that must get the weight-loss down to about 60kg now!!

Everythings all re-fitted now and I’m pleased to say I’ve got no rattles at all and fully working heater controls

Picking up a roll cage in 2 weeks – and I’ve started sanding down the interior ready for paint. Got to get it all fitted and sprayed before September 22nd as I have a track day at Brands Hatch.
Also need new tyres and a full geometry setup. No rest for the wicked!!

I had a look at the suspension and with the car just ticking over 113k the bushes and ball joints had seen better days.

So I bought a set of wishbone bushes from Demon Tweeks and matching ARB bushes. I then went looking for some solid top mounts and stumbled upon a setup from Pure Motorsport which looked ideal. It’s a copy of the old cup racer setup with solid top mounts bolting directly to a very strong strut brace. So purchased one of those too

Pure Motorsport were brilliant and the whole kit arrived next day

Sadly things then went down hill. To cut a long story short I treated myself to a cordless impact driver and ended up rounding the top off of one of my coilovers

Anyway a few weeks later and massive thanks to my mate Phill at G&G Motorsport and it’s all fitted.
I’m very happy to report the turn-in is now fast and precise, the feedback from the steering wheel is greatly increased and I’m a happy Clio driver once again.

Now just need to get it booked onto a track session again ASAP!