News
Caterham news

Caterham's latest track challenger - the Superlight R300 - has broken cover, enjoying a successful shakedown at Rockingham last week at the start of an extensive test and proving programme.

Powered by a Caterham Motorsport-developed 2-litre Ford Duratec engine producing 170bhp, the Superlight R300 is aimed at bridging the gap between Caterham's 120bhp Roadsport A and the 220bhp Superlight R400, models which have formed the backbone of the sports car manufacturer's racing programme for many seasons.

"Fresh from the factory the Superlight R300 performed very well and there were no major problems reported at Rockingham," said Caterham Motorsport Director Magnus Laird. "There are however many testing miles to be covered in the coming weeks before the car can make a competition debut."

Caterham will run a stand-alone grid for the Superlight R300 in the UK in 2009, with two 30-minute races at each meeting, and will also make the car eligible for the '09 Eurocup. It will be a important rung on Caterham's motorsport ladder, says Laird: "Every season we bring 56 newcomers into British racing via the Caterham Academy, and a significant number of them progress in subsequent seasons to the Roadsport Challenge. We see the Superlight R300 as a means of giving these drivers a further relatively inexpensive racing platform on which to compete."

The new car will have a competition weight of 500kg and an anticipated 0-60mph time of 4.0 seconds. The full race specification of the Superlight R300 will include a six-speed gearbox, limited-slip differential, 13in Caterham Motorsport wheels shod with Avon CR500 treaded racing tyres, race-spec suspension with Bilstein dampers, AP Racing brake system, ATL FIA 'bag tank' fuel cell and MSA-compliant safety equipment. Basic price in kit form will be £24,995 inc VAT.

"The emphasis is firmly on value for money and reliability," adds Laird, "and the car has been designed with progression very much in mind: it will become possible to upgrade it to the specification of the premier Superlight series, ensuring a very long racing lifespan."

A handful of orders have already been received for the new car and further sales are anticipated once a programme of competitor test drives is commenced.