Caterham Acacdamy
Discussion
Hi Guys
I have not been on this forum before, spent some time with the TVR lot.
I am interested in the Caterham Acadamy and wondered if anybody had any experience?
Is it as good as it sounds, do you need to buy a new car to enter, are running costs resonable?
Any advice would be most welcome
Mark
I have not been on this forum before, spent some time with the TVR lot.
I am interested in the Caterham Acadamy and wondered if anybody had any experience?
Is it as good as it sounds, do you need to buy a new car to enter, are running costs resonable?
Any advice would be most welcome
Mark
Hello! Plenty of people on here have done it, I'm one of them.
The first year's racing is included with the purchase of the car, but don't forget things like buying your suit and helmet (ideally at least a grand for the two), trailer, tow vehicle if you haven't already got one, etc etc... All stuff you'd have to buy anyway if you want to start racing, but don't be fooled into thinking you buy the car and that's it.
The car holds its value pretty well, and it's eligible for Roadsports and Graduates championships once you've finished with only a change of tyres.
There are much cheaper ways to start racing (see graduates.org.uk, or just buy a Roadsport), but the Academy gives you a relatively level playing field of people with little experience, your entry fees and race license fees are included and you get a bit of driver training.
Once you've taken everything into account it's reasonably good value, and if you can afford it, then I would recommend it.
The first year's racing is included with the purchase of the car, but don't forget things like buying your suit and helmet (ideally at least a grand for the two), trailer, tow vehicle if you haven't already got one, etc etc... All stuff you'd have to buy anyway if you want to start racing, but don't be fooled into thinking you buy the car and that's it.
The car holds its value pretty well, and it's eligible for Roadsports and Graduates championships once you've finished with only a change of tyres.
There are much cheaper ways to start racing (see graduates.org.uk, or just buy a Roadsport), but the Academy gives you a relatively level playing field of people with little experience, your entry fees and race license fees are included and you get a bit of driver training.
Once you've taken everything into account it's reasonably good value, and if you can afford it, then I would recommend it.
I've wanted to do it for years but the costs have always been too much - as said, Graduates offers similar (it's for ex-academy cars) but no need for a new car and there's a good trade in used ones from about £8k upwards.
So the car and package is £18k to start with, as a kit. Caterham will build it for 3k, if you DIY most people spend a fair bit on tools and other bits and bobs along the way. The basic car is very basic - paint is nearly a grand, as is weather equipment if you want it.
Unless you're going to drive to each event in your roofless, heaterless race car you'll need a trailer - which you can spend a couple of grand on easily, even secondhand. And of course, something suitable to tow it with. Then there's kitting yourself out - a suit, helmet, gloves, boots can be well past 4 figures. If you want HANS then another grand.
Race entries are covered, but of course you'll be spending a fair bit on fuel, staying somewhere for the weekend and any food/beer for you and anyone you dragged along to help. Camping's a cheap option but not a comfortable one. Many people do extra track/test days at the venues beforehand too, and to get used to the car before the season starts. Plus a heathly contingency fund in case you crash it (or a hefty fee per race to insure for it) or if it blows up. And of course, some running costs on the car over the season.
I think you can easily be in for over £30k to do that first season - residual value in the car is maybe £13-14k. It's not cheap motorsport by any stretch - although subsequent years in graduates would be a lot cheaper as you've already got everything.
So the car and package is £18k to start with, as a kit. Caterham will build it for 3k, if you DIY most people spend a fair bit on tools and other bits and bobs along the way. The basic car is very basic - paint is nearly a grand, as is weather equipment if you want it.
Unless you're going to drive to each event in your roofless, heaterless race car you'll need a trailer - which you can spend a couple of grand on easily, even secondhand. And of course, something suitable to tow it with. Then there's kitting yourself out - a suit, helmet, gloves, boots can be well past 4 figures. If you want HANS then another grand.
Race entries are covered, but of course you'll be spending a fair bit on fuel, staying somewhere for the weekend and any food/beer for you and anyone you dragged along to help. Camping's a cheap option but not a comfortable one. Many people do extra track/test days at the venues beforehand too, and to get used to the car before the season starts. Plus a heathly contingency fund in case you crash it (or a hefty fee per race to insure for it) or if it blows up. And of course, some running costs on the car over the season.
I think you can easily be in for over £30k to do that first season - residual value in the car is maybe £13-14k. It's not cheap motorsport by any stretch - although subsequent years in graduates would be a lot cheaper as you've already got everything.
Don't worry about it blowing up too much, they're pretty robust (at least the K's were)!
I wouldn't put him off too much though, like you say though, the stuff like hotels, fuel, tools, trailers, etc etc, is all stuff you'd have to buy anyway, the only thing you're suffering is the higher purchase price of the car and getting mugged for any 'options' like paint and factory build. ARDS is quite expensive to do yourself (probably a couple of hundred quid), and your race entry fees are usually £200 quid a go, so really overall it's a tradeoff between depreciation on a new car and license and entry fees!
I wouldn't put him off too much though, like you say though, the stuff like hotels, fuel, tools, trailers, etc etc, is all stuff you'd have to buy anyway, the only thing you're suffering is the higher purchase price of the car and getting mugged for any 'options' like paint and factory build. ARDS is quite expensive to do yourself (probably a couple of hundred quid), and your race entry fees are usually £200 quid a go, so really overall it's a tradeoff between depreciation on a new car and license and entry fees!
Hello
I've joined the 2010 Academy.
What's been said already is just as I understand it too. It isn't cheap - my car is being factory built and is coming in at a noggin under 24k - and that is unpainted! (I will be driving it to events and hopefully home again!)
What you do get is trackside support from Caterham the ARDS test, races and some kind of handling day. As has also been said you will have a relatively level playing field of race novices. Well I say level but I'm sure there will be big difference in ability from top to bottom.
Year old academy cars are on the caterham website for about 16k (i think) so that's an 8k saving at least on what I'm paying. Well, 8k less say 2k for race entries, training and ARDS. Is it worth it? I don't think I would have done it off my own back so maybe it is for me.
I've joined the 2010 Academy.
What's been said already is just as I understand it too. It isn't cheap - my car is being factory built and is coming in at a noggin under 24k - and that is unpainted! (I will be driving it to events and hopefully home again!)
What you do get is trackside support from Caterham the ARDS test, races and some kind of handling day. As has also been said you will have a relatively level playing field of race novices. Well I say level but I'm sure there will be big difference in ability from top to bottom.
Year old academy cars are on the caterham website for about 16k (i think) so that's an 8k saving at least on what I'm paying. Well, 8k less say 2k for race entries, training and ARDS. Is it worth it? I don't think I would have done it off my own back so maybe it is for me.
I didn't go the academy route, just jumped straight in at RSA level. Cheaper car, but more experienced drivers.
Overall good and bad choice. If i had my time again I might of gone down the academy route, but a lot of people love the academy and find it an excellent introduction. Personally when I was considering it it was full for the following year (says something!) and a friend was selling his car so it made sense to jump into A's.
If you can afford it, and you only ever live once go for it. I'd say you'll love every minute of it.
Overall good and bad choice. If i had my time again I might of gone down the academy route, but a lot of people love the academy and find it an excellent introduction. Personally when I was considering it it was full for the following year (says something!) and a friend was selling his car so it made sense to jump into A's.
If you can afford it, and you only ever live once go for it. I'd say you'll love every minute of it.
Thanks Guys
This is all very helpful. I have looked at the graduates website and that looks like a good way to go.
I may be sharing the car with a couple of mates and spreading the cost. I guess we could enter more races in the graduates system or just do trackdays as an additional bit of fun!!
This is all very helpful. I have looked at the graduates website and that looks like a good way to go.
I may be sharing the car with a couple of mates and spreading the cost. I guess we could enter more races in the graduates system or just do trackdays as an additional bit of fun!!
Incorrigible said:
I've got a supergrad you can try if you want to see how they go
And I've got one for sale when I've fixed it up
I went straight into the supergrads as a friend (Incorrigible;)) was racing with them and I wasn't interested in doing the sprints or hillclimbs. ARDS is easy to sort yourself and the club is very friendly and offers support from other members so it's very straightforward and there are the obvious financial savings.
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