Atom 300 vs. R500
Discussion
Just an interesting comparison, I don't want anyone to take this too seriously... but:
At a recent trackday (Sunday) I was there in an R500 with an Ariel Atom 300. There were a few times I was following him and it was interesting. The Caterham (whether due to engineering/tyres/driver confidence) was clearly much better getting on the power/braking/cornering, but in a straight line there was very little between the two. I think that I *just* had the legs on the Atom, but it was close, video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb767Bi5rd8
At a recent trackday (Sunday) I was there in an R500 with an Ariel Atom 300. There were a few times I was following him and it was interesting. The Caterham (whether due to engineering/tyres/driver confidence) was clearly much better getting on the power/braking/cornering, but in a straight line there was very little between the two. I think that I *just* had the legs on the Atom, but it was close, video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb767Bi5rd8
edb49 said:
Just an interesting comparison, I don't want anyone to take this too seriously... but:
At a recent trackday (Sunday) I was there in an R500 with an Ariel Atom 300. There were a few times I was following him and it was interesting. The Caterham (whether due to engineering/tyres/driver confidence) was clearly much better getting on the power/braking/cornering, but in a straight line there was very little between the two. I think that I *just* had the legs on the Atom, but it was close, video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb767Bi5rd8
Its 0.6s faster 0-100-0 than the CSR and has 20lb/ft less than the R500.At a recent trackday (Sunday) I was there in an R500 with an Ariel Atom 300. There were a few times I was following him and it was interesting. The Caterham (whether due to engineering/tyres/driver confidence) was clearly much better getting on the power/braking/cornering, but in a straight line there was very little between the two. I think that I *just* had the legs on the Atom, but it was close, video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb767Bi5rd8
Caterham has a much better weight distribution than the Atom and you dont look like an idiot or get wet legs when your driving one!
allen l said:
Unless you have exactly the same skill, I think it's probably the driver that makes the difference. I would love either of them. Always loved the Caterham, always loved the the Atom. 
I was just talking about straight line acceleration to be honest, I don't think there is any real contest in lap times.taffyracer said:
tbh it didn't look like either car was on it, not a good comparison/measure by any means I would suggest
I can assure when my foot was down it was fully down. 
I'm only talking about a straight line comparison here.The Atom was being driven by a driver who had previously done Caterham Academy, so knew what he was doing.
I carried out some datalogging on my old Atom 300 and my R500, the Caterham is faster than my Atom between some speeds and the Atom others - depending on shift points (the Caterham has very different ones because of the gearing). The seq box saves a few tenths every shift also. Overall I'd say the Atom 1-up is a little quicker than the R500, but slower 2-up. Seat of the pants though the Atom feels massively faster due to the supercharger's torque.
Caterham is in another league when it comes to cornering though, and you can actually drift it easily in the wet instead of spin!
The quick left hander onto the main straight at Abingdon is a great test of a car's grip as there is a change in the surface of the track. The video is a bit short to really judge the difference between the cars, but I'm sure that over a couple of laps you would get a good impression what car is quicker.
Here's a video of me driving the Caterham following another ph'er in a S1 Exige:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVjCOKky5a0
Looking back now, the driving's a bit shocking on my part, but it gives you an idea of the difference in the cars.
Here's a video of me driving the Caterham following another ph'er in a S1 Exige:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVjCOKky5a0
Looking back now, the driving's a bit shocking on my part, but it gives you an idea of the difference in the cars.
edb49 said:
Just an interesting comparison, I don't want anyone to take this too seriously... but:
At a recent trackday (Sunday) I was there in an R500 with an Ariel Atom 300. There were a few times I was following him and it was interesting. The Caterham (whether due to engineering/tyres/driver confidence) was clearly much better getting on the power/braking/cornering, but in a straight line there was very little between the two. I think that I *just* had the legs on the Atom, but it was close, video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb767Bi5rd8
Great vid (& car At a recent trackday (Sunday) I was there in an R500 with an Ariel Atom 300. There were a few times I was following him and it was interesting. The Caterham (whether due to engineering/tyres/driver confidence) was clearly much better getting on the power/braking/cornering, but in a straight line there was very little between the two. I think that I *just* had the legs on the Atom, but it was close, video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb767Bi5rd8
) & your other 12 min one from Abingdon too.Nice to have clear sound on a Caterham vid, most sound like force 10 gale !
Edited by CO2000 on Sunday 28th November 10:08
This is what it's all about! Love them both. The caterham gets some airtime too! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAkUvVV9lrw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAkUvVV9lrw
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff