Wednesday 30th July 2003

R500 Breaks Own Record

0-100-0 in a jiffy

---

Caterham's R500 has once again broken its own world record for speeding from a standing start to 100mph and then breaking back to zero again in a time of just 11.25 seconds. This compares to its 11.44 seconds performance in 2002, and the previous best time of 11.5 seconds set by the McLaren F1 LM in 1999.

In the record breaking run Colin Chapman’s legendary design sped to 60mph in 3.47 seconds (three hundredths slower than last year), got up to 100mph in 7.26 seconds (half a second quicker than previously!) and then came to an abrupt halt in less than four seconds later.

The record was set during Autocar magazine’s annual review of some of the world’s quickest cars at the Bruntingthorpe airfield, Leicestershire.

Simon Nearn, managing director of Caterham Cars, took a different view. He explained: "This is the best example of why the Caterham can be genuinely viewed as one of the safest cars on the road. Engineering and design is not just about speed and performance, the ability to accelerate out of trouble, and stop on a sixpence safely is unmatched. There is nothing as nimble and quick as a Seven."

Jez Coates, technical director of Caterham Cars, believes the R500 can go quicker. "This is as much about the performance of the car, and the technical ability of the driver. We’ve not reached the limits of both yet…who knows sub-11 seconds may even be possible."

Links: www.caterham.co.uk, Win a Caterham for the Day with PistonHeads

[Alex]

A TVR Tuscan S did phenomenally well in this test also, recording 12.52 seconds. Incredible when you think that a Tuscan is a "proper" car with a roof etc.

In fact it was the fastest proper car bar the Pagani Zonda which was only 0.68 seconds faster (and costs 5 times as much).

Well done TVR.

[Stig]

Safest car on the road?

Try getting hit in the side in a Se7en and see how you feel!!!

[zumbruk]

FFS, it's "braking".

[johnnystorm]

I was going to comment on the spelling of 'breaking' but then I thought, nah, it's a Freudian slip

[bilko]

When you drive a LandRover Speed really does matter and so does breaking.
Having never actually owned a sports car i always found Caterhams pretty impressive.
if i had a garage and the funds i would seriousely consider one of these.

[Noger]

name said:

Incredible when you think that a Tuscan is a "proper" car with a roof etc.

But that £15,000 saving of the R500 over the TVR buys a very decent, reliable roof, with 4 seats !

Or a little runabout and £7k's worth of smugness.

Seriously though, I think it is great that two British cars did so well, against some very very expensive machinery. You could have the Tiv, the R500 AND a house for the price of the Zonda.