Noble Sisters: Renault Clio Williams

The Renault engine on the Williams Formula 1 car marked a highly effective collaboration between the two companies from 1989 to 1997, achieving four Drivers' Titles, five Constructors' Championships, and 63 Formula 1 victories. One of the most iconic images of this partnership is undoubtedly the domination of the 1992 season by the FW14B, a car designed by Adrian Newey and equipped with the naturally aspirated 3493cc Renault V10 engine. Winning 10 of the 16 scheduled races, it allowed Nigel Mansell to clinch the Drivers' World Championship as early as the Hungarian Grand Prix mid-season. This was the first of four Drivers' Titles in the partnership, followed by victories in 1993 (Alain Prost), 1996 (Damon Hill), and 1997 (Jacques Villeneuve), along with five Constructors' Titles (1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997). Outside Formula 1, Williams and Renault also collaborated on a touring car project, developing the Renault Laguna for the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Once again, success was not long in coming: in 1997, it won all three BTCC trophies – Drivers', Constructors', and Teams'.

The collaboration between Renault and Williams extended beyond Formula 1 successes to touring cars, with the Laguna participating in the BTCC.

This success gave Renault the marketing and commercial opportunity to develop a road model linked to its track achievements. In 1990, Renault launched the Clio, the successor to the bestselling 5/Supercinq, with a sporty 1.8 16V engine producing 135 hp. The sales success in the first two years on the market encouraged Renault to design an even more extreme version for rallying in Group A and Group N categories.

It was the perfect showcase to capitalize on and highlight the partnership with Williams in production cars. The Renault Clio Williams was unveiled in 1993, the result of performance development by Renault Sport. Williams logos on the sides and tailgate contributed to making it a true cult object for generations. The exterior featured a specific metallic blue paint reminiscent of the English team’s livery, named "Sports Blue", gold-painted Speedline wheels, and various interior finishes (instrument panel, gear knob, and seatbelts) matching the car's body color.

In 1993, the Clio Williams debuted to celebrate the previous year’s Formula 1 Drivers' and Constructors' Titles and was designed for rallying.

The Renault Clio Williams was initially produced in a limited run of 3,800 units (1,300 more than required for rally homologation), each with a numbered plaque on the dashboard. The first Williams units sold out quickly, but growing demand led Renault to continue production with the Clio Williams 2 (1994-95) and Williams 3 (1995-96), totaling about 12,000 units. A true success, mirrored by the 4 million units sold of the “standard” Clio between 1990 and 1998.

The Renault Clio Williams’ engine was a 1,998cc naturally aspirated inline-four with 4 valves per cylinder and multipoint injection, derived from the Clio 1.8 16V, producing 147 hp. Impressive numbers for an early-90s compact sports car. This engine, combined with a weight of around one ton, delivered excellent performance and driving fun: agile and responsive in direction changes and cornering.

The Clio Williams was a massive success, with demand leading to the production of around 12,000 units.

Today, the Clio Williams has reached significant valuations; in some cases, original and well-preserved numbered series models exceed €50,000. Is it worth it? That question is only answered in the heart of the buyer. What is certain is that the French car has left an indelible mark in the history of affordable sports cars.

Over time, the Clio Williams became a true cult object among enthusiasts, with valuations often exceeding €50,000.