I have been a member of this site for a while now and I have read many discussions on the unique benefits and improvements the clio cup has over the regular common-or-garden 172
Now the MAIN difference between the two is the weight. The cup is 90-odd kg lighter than the normal 172 and (as well as the tweaks to the chassis) this makes it quicker.
So then.......
I have a Mk1 172 and one Sunday morning I did the following....
1, removed the spare wheel and the tools in the middle
2, removed the complete rear seat (top and bottom) and the parcel shelf
3, completely removed the passenger seat
WHAT A LAUGH !!!!
Now I dont know how much lighter the car was but it was f*ckin quick I CAN tell you that.
The fact that the rear end was lighter than helium made the cars ability to lift-off-oversteer even better, plough into a corner, front end poised and completely faithfull, back off the throttle sharply, turn in and involuntarily smile as the rear end of the car pops over your right shoulder to say hello before you counter the slide with a turn of the wheel, plant the throttle and drag the car away down the road ready to repeat the same process at the next corner.
Seriously folks, if you have half an hour to spare on a day off, take my advice and lose the dead weight, if you dont like it you can always put it back in but I fear like me, you will be making up excuses left right and centre to keep the car at fighting-weight
Have fun and be safe.