[Video] Ultimate noughties hot hatch battle at Spa Francorchamps | GRR
You can almost hear the scratched-up Scooter CD crackling its way through the tinny speakers, the lumpy reluctance of a cold morning idle, the stubbornness of a misty windscreen that just won’t clear. That’s right, we’re on some late ‘90s to early ‘00s non-German hot hatch nostalgia. The fighters? Renault Clio 172, MG ZS180, Peugeot 306 GTi-6. The venue? Spa Francorchamps. Let’s do this.
Semi slick-shod, caged and ready to make their valves dance, on the right day, there’s very little else that’d be as fun around Spa as these lot. As the so-called ‘200bhp club’ (a little generous) battle their way around, watch Porsches, BMW M cars and even modern hot hatches make way for this on-limit precession. Ride flat through Eau Rouge up to Raidillon with nothing but belligerent camber and tread pattern of questionable legality to carry you. Hear the screaming motors dance with their limiters, as the drivers do their best Lando – or Michael – impression, dicing with the definition of track limits. Oh man, I need to restore my 172...
Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: Raw F3000 screamers at Brands Hatch.