We'll be doing this next year
We're pleased to announce that PistonHeads will be sponsoring the 2010 PistonHeads.com Caterham Academy, and that PH's very own Riggers will be cutting his racing teeth in the series.
For those who don't know, the Caterham Academy is one of the most interesting and exciting ways for aspiring novices to get into circuit racing, as it guides you through the license process and a season of sprints, hillclimbs and circuit racing.
It's good value, too. A fiver less than 18 grand gets you through your ARDS test, gives you a full season of racing, oh, and most importantly bags you a fully road-legal racing car.
Even consumables won't cost the earth - a set of tyres should last a whole season - and best of all the car should still be worth around 15 grand at the end of the season. (Provided you don't crash it too hard or too often, of course.)
Since it started in 1995 more than 700 people have 'graduated' from the Caterham Academy, and the series is proving more popular than ever - all 56 places on the two-grid 2010 championship line-up have already been filled, and the order books are open for the 2011 season.
Needless to say, Riggers is extremely excited at the prospect of racing a Caterham for a year. "It really is a bit of a dream come true," he says. "I've always wanted to get into circuit racing, and this has got to be the perfect way to start."
Riggers - opening the door to stardom?
In fact, Riggers has been so keen to get behind the wheel of an Academy car that he persuaded Caterham to let him have a 'warm up' run in the 2009 model at a recent Oulton Park track day - and you'll be able to read how he got on soon.
We haven't decided if we're going to make Riggers drive his new racing car to every event, but if it keeps raining this hard we probably will. Not that we're jealous, you understand...
Meanwhile we're hoping to take delivery of our new PistonHeads Caterham racer at the PH show in January, so look out for it there.