Caterham Academy Full
2005 sold out - 2006 bookings now being taken for entry level race programme
For with nine months to go before the start of the 2005 season Caterham has sold all 56 places in the championship.
"Last year we sold the final places on the 2004 grid by the end of July," said Caterham Cars managing director Simon Nearn, "and this year we have beaten that incredible performance by a full month.
The Caterham Academy is a great way to get into motor racing. The cost to compete next season is just £15,950, which includes a road-legal 1.6-litre Caterham Roadsport to keep, track licence exam, training seminars and all event and championship fees. Competitors get to sample hillclimbing, three sprint events and three circuit races.
"It's an exceptional price," says Nearn, "and fantastic value for the would-be racer. It's little wonder that we are now full for 2005 and are already filling up the places for '06."
An added attraction for would-be Academy entrants is that once they have completed their introductory season they can then move on with their car to one of the many club-level championships organised for the Caterham 7.
Among next season's Academy intake are two 17-year-old daughters of current Caterham racers: Emma Frost and Katy Richards.Emma's father, Steve, has raced Caterhams exclusively during his four-year track career, starting with a Roadsport; he currently drives a Colards Motorsport R400 in the Autosport Caterham Eurocup. Katy is the daughter of multiple Caterham champion Clive Richards, who said: "She is really looking forward to the Academy and I'm really looking forward to teaching her as much as I know…"
Anyone else considering it - please remember that it is not £16k for the season. What is missing is race fuel and spares, transportation, hotels and damage budgets, which can really add up, plus purchase of tools that you thought that you already had etc.
My first season in the Ginetta should cost £12k for the car and £4k for the entry fees (at much bigger meetings than academy), which is about the same as the Caterham junior series albeit without the tuition and ARDS test etc. IMHO, much better value for money.
The season however will cost at least £10k more than the figure above, due to purchase of van to transport car, the other extras mentioned above, and an 85mph shunt a couple of weekends ago.
Obviously, I want as many people as possible to get into racing, but please do it with eyes wide open regarding costs.
Rich
Motor racing aint cheap - period !
2 races this year in the R400 - costs: £15k
punted off and an engine let go
But I would personally point anyone who wanted to start at the Caterham Academy - it's the best place to learn and have fun - yes it will cost you more than 16k but you get a road legal car for that money - that if you wanted to u could drive to all the events. OK trailing it ain't a bad option. I believe yr restricted to x amount of tyres a year and that includes all yr entries etc.
All the academy drivers are novices - no one's held a race licience before - and you're well looked after by the Caterham team. And from there you can keep the car as it is or upgrade it and move on to one of the other Caterham Series.
www.caterhamracing.com
Hidden costs:
Your "road legal Caterham 7 Roadsport" will be delivered to your door as a chassis and 10 boxes of bits. (or 2K for Caterham to build/register it for you)
It does not come with a seat.
You will inevitably need to purchase extras (usually safety equipment such as intrusion bars and crumple sheets for the fuel tank unless you want to take chances).
Racewear (Helmet, Gloves, overalls etc) will cost £1000.
A trailer (£850 for a 2nd hand Minno?) as you will get cheesed off with driving to and from events with jerry cans and axle stands as a passenger.
Basically, the cost of the Academy year will depend on what you want to achieve. Some guys (there were no girlies in my year!) just want to experience racing as cheaply as poss for one year. Others will spend lots on tuition, testing, car preparation (a flat floor setup really is a minimum requirement in which case you need to by the optional adjustable dampers..) etc.
You could easily add another £10,000 to the sales figure or conversley as little as £4,000 depending on the above.
The good news is that the car is progressively upgradeable to qualify for around 7 different race series (dependant upon the mods done) across a number of Racing clubs, from just changing the tyres and adding a rear anti roll bar (Roadsport B/Super Graduates/750 MC) to engine upgrades, LSD and 6 speed G'Box(Roadsport A).
Incidentally, barring accident damage you can get by with only one set of tyres for the year as the Avon CR322 control tyre is hard as nails (with grip to match!). In fact most people buy a set of part worns to get the tread blocks down.
Anyway, anyone who signs up to this will have a fantastic year, that's almost guaranteed.
Neil.
www.FletcherRacing.com
>> Edited by Neil F on Wednesday 30th June 14:05
>> Edited by Neil F on Wednesday 30th June 15:06
Are there any forums for the race series, I've been really busy so haven't got beyond "Hello Caterham here's my deposit cheque"
You mention adjustable suspension, I was told that the only adjustment allowed was ride height and that you couldn't change from the standard units ??
I'm really looking forward to it
Cheers
Ben
Neil F said:Knowing Incorrigible I don't think he'll have any problem converting his new tyres to part worns before the start of the season.
Incidentally, barring accident damage you can get by with only one set of tyres for the year as the Avon CR322 control tyre is hard as nails (with grip to match!). In fact most people buy a set of part worns to get the tread blocks down.
Regarding the suspension, yes you can only adjust ride height, but only if you have the height adjustable suspension! Optional extra... The dampers and the springs are the same but the platforms are fixed on the "standard" items.
Neil.
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