Having put nearly 900 drivers through its Academy
race programme
Caterham is eyeing the up and coming generation of potential customers with a
new kart series
based around its own off-the-peg championship. And from this to an F1 car with everything in-between, including
Sevens
SP/300.R
, there’s an infectious sense of enthusiasm and excitement bubbling away on the Caterham stand.
Caterham's kart looks a load of fun
For an all-inclusive price of £4,995 (plus VAT), the Caterham karting package for 13 to 16-year-olds follows the model of the Seven Academy series and bundles CK-01 kart, an ARKS race licence and six events into one off-the-peg product. The kart itself looks the business, complete with trick gold-anodised components and, on the stand at least, Caterham racing livery. Support is included in the price and everything is geared towards creating a level playing field and letting the stars of the future shine on talent alone.
Sevens, including the mad new R600, and the SP/300.R also feature on the stand but it’s the products from Caterham Technology and Innovation that really spark interest. One is a Euro 5 compatible 2.0-litre Duratec-based engine with a healthy 240hp designed to prove that high-revving normally aspirated engines with a high specific output do have a future in a world embracing downsizing and turbos. 120hp per litre and an 8,500rpm redline is enough to ensure a future for the more mental Seven variants in export markets, CTI’s Paul Birch bullish about their ability to make engines that are both exciting to drive and compliant with the strictest emissions and noise regs. Bravo.
Regs friendly 240hp Duratec among CTI's work
But he’s even more excited about another CTI product. Birch’s previous experience at Lotus supercharging Toyota engines for various Elise and Exige variants has inspired a bolt-on ‘downsizing’ power upgrade designed to be offered directly to manufacturers. Where in the past a V6 might have been used this neatly integrated chargecooler and supercharger set-up – like that on the
Elise SC
– offers a bolt-on power boost for four-cylinder engines capable of a reliable 300hp without the need to fiddle with compression ratios or other modifications.
The compact size is such that it’ll fit where the existing induction system went and is intended as an off-the-shelf product for manufacturers rather than a retail power upgrade for private customers. If the zingy, revvy power delivery of the Elise SC is anything to go by Birch’s assertion it’s a more exciting alternative to the turbos most manufacturers are going for and an easy off-the-shelf upgrade is easy to believe.
Combined 'charger and cooler for power boost
Someone really needs to arrange a lunch date between Caterham and Mazda – a 300hp, sub-£30K Boxster chasing MX-5 sounds like a bit of a giggle and an obvious collaboration. Any other suggestions? Anything with a four-cylinder engine and need for speed can apply…