RE: Unveiled: Caterham's Dramatic New SP/300.R
Discussion
Sam_68 said:
James.S said:
Sam_68 said:
But is a move into the circuit racing market the right way for a company like Caterham to go, do you think?
They have a well established business selling road/trackday cars. Most race car manufacturers seem to aspire to a move in the opposite direction in order to grow and gain stability?
what absolute rubbish........They have a well established business selling road/trackday cars. Most race car manufacturers seem to aspire to a move in the opposite direction in order to grow and gain stability?
I can name you any number of race car manufacturers, from Lotus to McLaren, who have tried to make the move from race car to road car manufacture in order to stabilise their cash flow, but I can't think of many who have thought it sensible to try to move in the other direction.
The only good reason to expand a road car business into dedicated race cars is the halo effect of racing success, and it is difficult to see how Caterham will even derive much benefit from that: most of their customers are fairly clued-up and the car is clearly a Lola design. Hell, they can't even draw the kudos from building the cars, as no doubt most of the fabrication (as with the Seven) will be sub-contracted out (presumably back to Lola).
Lola seems to be making quite a nice business out of putting other people's badges on their cars, however, so at least one company has its head screwed on... unfortunately it didn't seem to help their last high-profile client to survive:
James.S said:
Sam_68 said:
James.S said:
Sam_68 said:
But is a move into the circuit racing market the right way for a company like Caterham to go, do you think?
They have a well established business selling road/trackday cars. Most race car manufacturers seem to aspire to a move in the opposite direction in order to grow and gain stability?
what absolute rubbish........They have a well established business selling road/trackday cars. Most race car manufacturers seem to aspire to a move in the opposite direction in order to grow and gain stability?
But I was trying to have debate a genuine point.
Would you care to respond to my question, or are childish personal insults the limits of your contribution to the discussion?
MonkeyMatt said:
Caterham need to be developing a new road car! with Noble and now Lotus heading upmarket there is a gap that they are perfecrly placed to fill!
I'd like them to do that but I think it would be a far riskier venture than this track car. Maybe the reason Noble and Lotus (and TVR) have left that market is that it is extremely difficult to make money there.Sam_68 said:
But I was trying to have debate a genuine point.
Problem is that is an outright lie.There has been no debate on your part, only assertion of your opinion followed by ad hominem attacks on anyone who dares to attempt to debate your opinion.
I don't know if you do this for jollies or you really believe in what you are saying, but in the scheme of things it doesn't really matter, most rational people will be ignoring you anyway.
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen!
I've been moved to join the PistonHeads "family" today, just to be able to contribute to this thread!
I have to say, at the outset, that I race a Sports 2000. Not a Duratec, but the entry-level Pinto-powered version. I shall race a Duratec S2000 at some point because it represents the most racing car for the money, and takes us to all the good circuits in the UK, as well as the occasional foray into Europe (Spa, Dijon etc). The new Caterham is a lovely thing, and the race series will be very professionally run. Likewise for Radical. However, for way less money, Sports 2000 Duratec is a very compelling choice. The aero is deliberately restricted and the power output will never trash the running gear. This means that the running/rebuild costs are correspondingly low. It make a great deal of sense, both as a racer and track-day car.
Each to their own, I say. But I still reckon we've got the best offering.
Peace to you all.
Rollo Tomasi (racing driver of no great repute)
I've been moved to join the PistonHeads "family" today, just to be able to contribute to this thread!
I have to say, at the outset, that I race a Sports 2000. Not a Duratec, but the entry-level Pinto-powered version. I shall race a Duratec S2000 at some point because it represents the most racing car for the money, and takes us to all the good circuits in the UK, as well as the occasional foray into Europe (Spa, Dijon etc). The new Caterham is a lovely thing, and the race series will be very professionally run. Likewise for Radical. However, for way less money, Sports 2000 Duratec is a very compelling choice. The aero is deliberately restricted and the power output will never trash the running gear. This means that the running/rebuild costs are correspondingly low. It make a great deal of sense, both as a racer and track-day car.
Each to their own, I say. But I still reckon we've got the best offering.
Peace to you all.
Rollo Tomasi (racing driver of no great repute)
RobM77 said:
Wilakroyd said:
It looks fab, but at that money a reliable Porsche 997 cup car is a great off the shelf racer?! That qualifies for great race series like the vln etc As a Caterham owner and lover u would love to see an Elise/exige I could run everyday, especially as lotus are now moving into the luxury car sector! would sell by the bucket full!
The 997 is a completely different sort of car though. Mind you, I guess your point isn't a comparison of cars, but a comparison of costs. Personally, I can see the appeal of the Porsche, but for my own tastes I'd far rather race a purpose built sports prototype racer. Actually though, if I had that sort of money I'd probably still be in a single seater. Each to their own though. I don't think the 997 Cup damages the Caterham/Lola's case at all though, being such a different machine.
k on a track.I didn't stop laughing for a week and in fact spun out on a fast sweeper because I was laughing.
It's a genuinely totally different experience and one every petrolhead needs to try before standing up and saying this new Caterham, whatever its DNA, is not going to be awesome.
As for the cost, it doesn't seem that much of a leap from a top spec 7.
MonkeyMatt said:
Caterham need to be developing a new road car! with Noble and now Lotus heading upmarket there is a gap that they are perfecrly placed to fill!
Niches usually exist due to economics rather than oversight. IF there was a genuinely profitable market in there then Lotus and other low vol local manufacturers would be in there and aiming to stay there.Only kit cars and mass producers can really sit in that gap in modern Britain.
Edited by DonkeyApple on Saturday 15th January 17:33
I really think Caterham have dropped a clanger. Yes car looks great, but I think they have used the branding of another to give the car / caterham cars a branding , marketing boost. But the sportscar thing has been done and dusted, radical have the market, let them have it, cant see anyone spending the money or effort to take them on. Good luck though.
footsoldier said:
If they are making 25 a year, and 15 people buy them for track days, does that mean that it will be a one-make series with only 10 cars on grid in 2012? (or however else the numbers break down)
Of the 6 cars sold by the time we left on Friday, 5 are going to be raced. Pretty good ratio imho.I think it's a cracker!! - it will be great fun to drive, and knowing Caterham, the race series will be very well supported and pretty well promoted. Can't understand some of the comments on here - motor manufacturers have outsourced development and sometimes manufacture many, many times over the last few decades (try to name more than a handful that havn't!!) Also I think Caterham were wise not to tinker with a new 7 evolution, they'd only get slated by their most loyal punters (incl me) if they just launched an aero-based 7.
This is a brilliant move by Caterham - not earth shattering in the world of motor manufacture, but great news for the enthusiast, and should be applauded by all the so-called petrol-heads on this site - surely??
This is a brilliant move by Caterham - not earth shattering in the world of motor manufacture, but great news for the enthusiast, and should be applauded by all the so-called petrol-heads on this site - surely??
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