Caterham Academy 2023
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm looking for some advise about entering the Caterham Academy for 2023. I've been given the price and spec list but the options are as long as my arm!!
What would you say are the essentials and whats the most economical way of purchasing the vehicle?
I'll be building the car myself so keen to keep budgets in check along the way.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Andrew
I'm looking for some advise about entering the Caterham Academy for 2023. I've been given the price and spec list but the options are as long as my arm!!
What would you say are the essentials and whats the most economical way of purchasing the vehicle?
I'll be building the car myself so keen to keep budgets in check along the way.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Andrew
Firstly think about having the car wrapped before you start the build, wrapping is cheaper than painting (especially if you go for a non-standard colour) and stands up to gravel rash/racing wear and tear better.
Go for the passenger-side impact bar.
Have black wings and nose, they are consumables.....99% of racers lose a wing at some point.... therefore a wrapped or painted wing is a waste of time
Try and get a spare set of wheels from the get go.
Vbox and the screen is useful for data - I didn't get mine from Caterham, mine came from the autosport show with a show discount.....
Black pack looks better in my opinion but.....
As for the purchase..... I wouldn't go anywhere near the finance/PCP offered by Caterham - although its Santander - its massively expensive way of doing it.
You have to be realistic - its racing - there is a chance of damage and although extremely unlikely a write-off - I cannot conceive having to cough up a final balloon payment for a car that no longer exists.
Go for the passenger-side impact bar.
Have black wings and nose, they are consumables.....99% of racers lose a wing at some point.... therefore a wrapped or painted wing is a waste of time
Try and get a spare set of wheels from the get go.
Vbox and the screen is useful for data - I didn't get mine from Caterham, mine came from the autosport show with a show discount.....
Black pack looks better in my opinion but.....
As for the purchase..... I wouldn't go anywhere near the finance/PCP offered by Caterham - although its Santander - its massively expensive way of doing it.
You have to be realistic - its racing - there is a chance of damage and although extremely unlikely a write-off - I cannot conceive having to cough up a final balloon payment for a car that no longer exists.
Edited by justleanitupabit on Wednesday 10th November 09:48
Thanks for your feedback, really helpful.
I was wondering why Caterham were suggesting the wrap, good to know it's more about cost than anything else.
From what I've read it sounds like the black nose and wings are the way to go, so thanks for clarifying.
Whats the main benefit of having the Vbox? Do you need the data? Not sure what these can do?
Like the idea of the black pack too.
I was wondering why Caterham were suggesting the wrap, good to know it's more about cost than anything else.
From what I've read it sounds like the black nose and wings are the way to go, so thanks for clarifying.
Whats the main benefit of having the Vbox? Do you need the data? Not sure what these can do?
Like the idea of the black pack too.
Wrap - Its not just about cost but practicalities too but yes - if I was to do it again i'd wrap (not that you can do Academy twice).
Vbox - can be very useful - its a GPS trace with video that you can review to spot all of your mistakes with
- You can compare lap on lap, corner by corner all manner of things. Its not obligatory of course but I don't know many people that don't have some form of data-logging - The HD Vbox is ridiculously expensive but the quality is very good, the Vbox Lite has same functionality but (way) poorer video for much less money. Keep an eye out for 2nd hand ones coming on the market at the end of the season ..... Not everyone follows up Academy with Roadsport (or another series) so there are normally some available around this time of year......
Vbox - can be very useful - its a GPS trace with video that you can review to spot all of your mistakes with
- You can compare lap on lap, corner by corner all manner of things. Its not obligatory of course but I don't know many people that don't have some form of data-logging - The HD Vbox is ridiculously expensive but the quality is very good, the Vbox Lite has same functionality but (way) poorer video for much less money. Keep an eye out for 2nd hand ones coming on the market at the end of the season ..... Not everyone follows up Academy with Roadsport (or another series) so there are normally some available around this time of year......justleanitupabit said:
You have to be realistic - its racing - there is a chance of damage and although extremely unlikely a write-off - I cannot conceive having to cough up a final balloon payment for a car that no longer exists.
I did the 2000 Acadamy in a VX Caterham..... during the year i saw quite a few front ends replaced due to crashes. This consisted of the front of the chassis being cut off just before the bulkhead and a new one braised on. These accidents were generally where the front corner was hit and the force went through the suspension and bent the chassis.Edited by justleanitupabit on Wednesday 10th November 09:48
Other bit's go flying off, wheel arches were a few per race weekend (you should use plastic bolts that shear more easily leaving the skin still in a decent state and i the skin does get damaged use oversized washers to flatten it out when attaching a new wing), nerf's up the back had most rear panels also bent.
Also, be aware that not everyone of the 20odd competitors have any decency and quite a few will more than happily take you out or involve you in their accident. These are generally people with loads of money who don't care about damaging their own cars. Obviously there is no recourse against these people, you fix your own damage even if caused by someone else.
Otherwise it's a great laugh
Edited by super7 on Wednesday 10th November 13:54
Caterham support the Academy and Roadsport (the year after Academy) so parts are something you don't really have to think about too much.
(IE they fix any damage at a race weekend and just bill you for the parts used)
Plastic bolts have been standard supply on race cars for years - yours will come with them.
I don't think I've every heard anyone advise against doing the Academy - its utterly brilliant and even if you don't continue racing afterwards you'll still have a road going Caterham with (condition considering like any other car) a residual value of +20k
You need to budget probably another £3/4k for safety gear (Helmet, Hans, Suit, gloves, nomex underwear etc) - which you'd need in any form of racing.
(IE they fix any damage at a race weekend and just bill you for the parts used)
Plastic bolts have been standard supply on race cars for years - yours will come with them.
I don't think I've every heard anyone advise against doing the Academy - its utterly brilliant and even if you don't continue racing afterwards you'll still have a road going Caterham with (condition considering like any other car) a residual value of +20k
You need to budget probably another £3/4k for safety gear (Helmet, Hans, Suit, gloves, nomex underwear etc) - which you'd need in any form of racing.
Edited by justleanitupabit on Wednesday 10th November 17:30
One more bit of advice, unless you're intending to do the Academy as a once in a lifetime thing (and not carry on club racing with it afterwards!) I'd go straight in and buy a trailer to tow the car, don't be tempted to try and drive it to the events.
A mate in my Academy year (way back in 2005!) drove his to events to make it part of the experience. He would drive sensibly in the races and keep his nose clean to look after the car, but on a Friday test day at Pembrey he unfortunately got sent into the pit wall by another car and had to make his own way back to his home London. Not much fun!
It is the best thing you'll ever do though, I still have several close mates from my Academy year and my best man at my wedding was the first bloke I sat down next to at the first intro briefing at Caterham Midlands as it was!
A mate in my Academy year (way back in 2005!) drove his to events to make it part of the experience. He would drive sensibly in the races and keep his nose clean to look after the car, but on a Friday test day at Pembrey he unfortunately got sent into the pit wall by another car and had to make his own way back to his home London. Not much fun!
It is the best thing you'll ever do though, I still have several close mates from my Academy year and my best man at my wedding was the first bloke I sat down next to at the first intro briefing at Caterham Midlands as it was!
Great advice above. I would just recommend using a race team for car setup before you drive it. They will "flat floor" the car which will make it much more driveable and predictable. They will also be able to take bridge the gap between the whats needed to get the IVA to make car road legal and what is needed for the track (head rests, high rain light etc etc all takes time to organise).
Sorry to hijack this thread, but sort of linked to the previous posts, I am about to push the button on 2023 entry but wondered if anyone knew what engines were going in for that season given that sigmas are now discontinued?
Not getting a great deal of insight from the dealer I’m going through who at the moment seems to think sigmas have got several years left, which is obviously contrary to the mainstream press - unless Caterham have a batch of sigmas set aside solely for the next few academies and it is just the road cars that are going without them? Have heard maybe a detuned c.150bhp Duratec for these in time but not sure how ready/suitable this would be for an academy car…..
Thanks
Tim
Not getting a great deal of insight from the dealer I’m going through who at the moment seems to think sigmas have got several years left, which is obviously contrary to the mainstream press - unless Caterham have a batch of sigmas set aside solely for the next few academies and it is just the road cars that are going without them? Have heard maybe a detuned c.150bhp Duratec for these in time but not sure how ready/suitable this would be for an academy car…..
Thanks
Tim
HustleRussell said:
Are lowered floors standard now? Definitely worth having if you're in the region of 6', or taller...
Yes they are. You only really get the options of- Black wheels
- Black pack
- Sequential lights
- Vbox potato spec
- Vbox expensive spec
I'm not planning on buying the Vbox as I've got an Aim camera and I also have shift lights in the garage
Amyles said:
Hi all,
I'm looking for some advise about entering the Caterham Academy for 2023. I've been given the price and spec list but the options are as long as my arm!!
What would you say are the essentials and whats the most economical way of purchasing the vehicle?
I'll be building the car myself so keen to keep budgets in check along the way.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Andrew
A bit late to the game, but I've just secured my place on the 2023 grid! How did you get on with speccing your car? Are you self building?I'm looking for some advise about entering the Caterham Academy for 2023. I've been given the price and spec list but the options are as long as my arm!!
What would you say are the essentials and whats the most economical way of purchasing the vehicle?
I'll be building the car myself so keen to keep budgets in check along the way.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Andrew
As said by TheWookie (hey OJ! 
), i'd just get yourself into club racing and cut out the middle-man.
That's what i did in 2004. I signed up for the 2005 academy season and after speaking to people in Caterham Graduates i decided to buy a used car instead.
I changed my road car for something with a towbar. Bought a trailer. Did one trackday as i'd never been on track before. Did my ARDS at Mallory. And i was on the grid at Knockhill within a few weeks for my first race meeting.
), i'd just get yourself into club racing and cut out the middle-man.That's what i did in 2004. I signed up for the 2005 academy season and after speaking to people in Caterham Graduates i decided to buy a used car instead.
I changed my road car for something with a towbar. Bought a trailer. Did one trackday as i'd never been on track before. Did my ARDS at Mallory. And i was on the grid at Knockhill within a few weeks for my first race meeting.
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