Had a play with an e46 M3 earlier

plenty of youtube vids showing 197/200 keeping up with ring taxi's in the twisties and even some of 250's/65 where the ring taxi pulls over to let them by.
 
I have driven an E46 M3, one that was in good condition, and a standard 197 would get slaughtered in the straights. The brakes are also every bit as good as the Clio's (I owned a CTR at the time and the M3 could easily out brake that). Personally I found the steering far too light and it didn't inspire confidence in the corners the way the Clio does. That would be my 2 pence worth on why he couldn't keep up with you on the bends.

that's because the ctr brakes are crap!
 
that's because the ctr brakes are crap!
They are not as good as the 197 but not bad either. Haven't tried on track.

My point was the M3 brakes were epic compared to everything else I had driven up to that point. It was the steering that was too light.
 
i was behind a porche caymen 2.8 11 plate the other day and in 2nd to 3rd we was identical. was rather impressed, shame the bloke was cautious on corners and everything else. but i could see a clio keeping up with an m3 or even loosing it in twistys.