Friday 6th November 2009

Caterham Academy 2010 - Get In Now!

Slots are filling up fast for Britain's favourite starter series

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Since PH's very own RacingPete dipped his toe into the world of Caterham R300 racing, we've been taking a bit more of an interest in the marque's various challenges.

The Academy in action - racing is always close

Since 1995, one of the best - and most cost-effective - ways for aspirant novice racing drivers to get some experience under their belts has been to enrol in the Caterham Academy series.

As a follow up to Pete's R300 story, Caterham has tipped us a wink that time is running out for anyone who wants to join the grid for the 2010 Academy series, with less than 10 places remaining.

In case you're not familiar with the concept, since 1995, the Caterham Academy has introduced more than 700 people to motor racing - taking them through the race license process and their first season of racing in sprints, hillclimbs and track events.

Despite the current recession, a surge of interest in the £17,995, one-make motorsport starter package has seen slots fly as novice racers sign up, they tell us.

RacingPete in the R300

It's not hard to see why, as the price includes a fully road-legal car, tuition and a full season of racing. You don't even have to budget much for consumables like brake pads and tyres, as being so light they hardly get through anything.

The cars usually have a strong resale value too, although most entrants opt to keep them to either move up a class or for road/track day use.

Hmm... tempting, isn't it?

[soad]

Read about this in some magazine last month i believe.

Wish funds allowed me to enter...

[The Wookie]

I did it in 2005, it was a good start to motorsport although forget the '18 grand all in' figure, you're going to need a race suit, helmet, trailer, etc etc etc. Which isn't to say it isn't good value, but make sure you can afford it!

Set me up well enough though!

[Chris-R]

The Wookie said:

I did it in 2005, it was a good start to motorsport although forget the '18 grand all in' figure, you're going to need a race suit, helmet, trailer, etc etc etc. Which isn't to say it isn't good value, but make sure you can afford it!

Set me up well enough though!

Trailer..?!!! Don't the Academy crowd drive to the track any more?

[RacerMDR]

I did it in 2005 too

it was great - I learnt a lot and met some great people.

As Wookie says - the headline figure is close - but there are other things you will need on top.

If you are unorganised like me - it was great to be walked through in simple steps

5 years later - i'm still racing Caterhams........and still loving every second of it

Next year R300s for me!

[ozdavis]

I would love to have a go at this! I've done my ards and have been looking for a relatively cheap way to get started!

Does anyone know the calendar for this? I have to work a lot of weekends and as a result would need to plan a way ahead!

Ollie

[fivesixseven8]

Do they offer a CSR chassis option? I'm too much of a fatty for the normal ones!

[BertBert]

ozdavis said:

I would love to have a go at this! I've done my ards and have been looking for a relatively cheap way to get started!

Does anyone know the calendar for this? I have to work a lot of weekends and as a result would need to plan a way ahead!

Ollie

In theory it's only open to novices. Not sure how they define that if you have a race licence already.

also 5678 I think you mean SV rather then CSR! I thought they did, but could be wrong. Of course if you are not as svelte as some of the competitors, you'll have a weight disadvantage!

Bert

[MikeDH]

Chris-R said:

The Wookie said:

I did it in 2005, it was a good start to motorsport although forget the '18 grand all in' figure, you're going to need a race suit, helmet, trailer, etc etc etc. Which isn't to say it isn't good value, but make sure you can afford it!

Set me up well enough though!

Trailer..?!!! Don't the Academy crowd drive to the track any more?

Some still do... not sure what you would do if you crashed it though!

[shoestring7]

The Wookie said:

I did it in 2005, it was a good start to motorsport although forget the '18 grand all in' figure, you're going to need a race suit, helmet, trailer, etc etc etc. Which isn't to say it isn't good value, but make sure you can afford it!

Set me up well enough though!

Agree. I looked into doing it, and went to some of the events and chatted to the entrants. In addition to the kit above, most of the competitive guys visited the venue beforehand (on a trackday, training day etc) so you can double the travel and hotel costs and time away.

The day I went to Academy event at Brands, the leader of the race was taken out on the last lap by a professionally run youngster. He didn't look old enough to shave let alone pay for anything with his pocket money.

I decided to stick to track days.

SS7

[fivesixseven8]

BertBert said:

ozdavis said:

I would love to have a go at this! I've done my ards and have been looking for a relatively cheap way to get started!

Does anyone know the calendar for this? I have to work a lot of weekends and as a result would need to plan a way ahead!

Ollie

In theory it's only open to novices. Not sure how they define that if you have a race licence already.

also 5678 I think you mean SV rather then CSR! I thought they did, but could be wrong. Of course if you are not as svelte as some of the competitors, you'll have a weight disadvantage!

Bert

Sorry, you're correct, that's exactly what I meant!

Edited by fivesixseven8 on Friday 6th November 18:38

[crossle]

Bedazzled said:

There are 10 slots still available for 2010? Blimey it used to be sold out a whole season in advance. Why are the numbers declining? Is it getting too expensive or maybe too many separate race series? Hope they get a full field of racers.

Somebody told me there's a bit of a recession on at the moment... D'ya think that might have something to do with it?

[Hellbound]

crossle said:

Bedazzled said:

There are 10 slots still available for 2010? Blimey it used to be sold out a whole season in advance. Why are the numbers declining? Is it getting too expensive or maybe too many separate race series? Hope they get a full field of racers.

Somebody told me there's a bit of a recession on at the moment... D'ya think that might have something to do with it?

What similarly priced (sub £30k) alternatives are there for budding racers?? I have very limited knowledge of all the numerous race series out there...

[dapearson]

Hellbound said:

crossle said:

Bedazzled said:

There are 10 slots still available for 2010? Blimey it used to be sold out a whole season in advance. Why are the numbers declining? Is it getting too expensive or maybe too many separate race series? Hope they get a full field of racers.

Somebody told me there's a bit of a recession on at the moment... D'ya think that might have something to do with it?

What similarly priced (sub £30k) alternatives are there for budding racers?? I have very limited knowledge of all the numerous race series out there...

Has anyone looked at caterham graduates? www.graduates.org.uk

You can race an ex-academy car for much less than the academy. The club is great. Just pop a message on the forum if you want more advice.

[CooperS]

Hellbound said:

crossle said:

Bedazzled said:

There are 10 slots still available for 2010? Blimey it used to be sold out a whole season in advance. Why are the numbers declining? Is it getting too expensive or maybe too many separate race series? Hope they get a full field of racers.

Somebody told me there's a bit of a recession on at the moment... D'ya think that might have something to do with it?

What similarly priced (sub £30k) alternatives are there for budding racers?? I have very limited knowledge of all the numerous race series out there...

I think the recession even effects the budding racers too!

Again would love to do this... but how do people raise 30k to go racing in a season!

[dapearson]

Simple. You DON'T spend £30k.

If you want to race a caterham for a season, and i mean a proper season of a doz races or so rather than the four races that you do in the academy, then you can. A few yrs old ex-academy caterham can be bought for £10k-£14k, and will suffer little depreciation. A season of racing can be had for between £5k and £10k depending on whether you sleep in a tent vs hotel, bother testing, etc.

There are plenty of options.

[The Wookie]

fivesixseven8 said:

Do they offer a CSR chassis option? I'm too much of a fatty for the normal ones!

You would honestly be amazed at the size of some of the racers I've seen in a narrow bodied car.

I'm 6'5' and not skinny (hence Wookie), and I fitted into mine perfectly comfortably with a bag seat and a lowered floor.

[James.S]

Agree on the size issue, go and sit in one without a seat fitted...loads of room. I'm 17st and the same height as OJ, minus about 6".

IMHO academy offers an awesome introduction into motorsport and its progression throught the caterham ladder offers the best competition out there if desired.

best of luck.