Friday 17th March 2006

Airborne Caterham finds a home

Auctioned R400 to race again

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Airborne: that R400...

A legendary Caterham R400 once dubbed 'too fast to race' by the authorities is to race again. It has a new home following a down-to-the-wire online auction of Caterham Sevens last month. The 'Caterham Legends' auction attracted huge interest from around the world and some legendary examples of the marque now have new owners.

Famously photographed 'airborne' whilst competing in the Nurburgring 24-hrs Race in 2002, the R400 racecar is destined for the track again, this time piloted by new owner Paul Crankshaw.

Former Caterham employee, Paul, said: "The car's history and engineering appeals to me greatly. This is an awesome car that deserves to be raced. I can't wait to enter it into this year's 750MC series."

Among the other highest bidders, was speed demon, Stephen Clarke, who is now the proud owner of the World Record Setting 0-100-0mph Caterham R500.

Back in 2002, the R500 completed the sprint to 100mph and back to a standstill in just 11.44 seconds outgunning every other production car on the planet.

Also among the winners was Caterham Seven fan and gravity sport enthusiast, Daniel Preston. He is the happy new owner of a unique Caterham Seven soapbox that competed in the Red Bull Soapbox Challenge in 2003. "I've always wanted a Seven," says Mr. Preston, "but now I can combine that with my desire to compete in Gravity Racing in 2006!"

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

Any idea how much they went for? What superb cars... I have to have one.

Whats the reliability like on a stock 7 or derivative? And maintenance costs?

[LEERDAM23]

Back in 2002, the R500 completed the sprint to 100mph and back to a standstill in just 11.44 seconds outgunning every other production car on the planet.

and the ultima smashed that by a second and a half!!!

[waynepixel]

Are there any video clip of these cars in action.?

[dino ferrana]

The following year a different R500 did it in 10.73 seconds. The Ultima has now done it quicker.

[gorsti]

don't cars go faster when all 4 wheels are on the ground? mind you, where's the fun in that

[gee_fin]

Pah, that's girls air that is :P

[clapshot]

That car has a camera mounted, any vids online for it?

[sgt^roc]

clapshot said:

That car has a camera mounted, any vids online for it?

but whats the point in stopping,

[musicman183]

clapshot said:

That car has a camera mounted, any vids online for it?

www.fluke-motorsport.co.uk/videos/2002videos.html

enjoy !

[Schmeeky]

No wonder they called it the Superlight!

[lewie]

[URL=http://img92.imageshack.us/my.php?ima][/URL]

Almost the same car, almost the same picture.
This is the Donkervoort D8 270 RS, produced in the Netherlands.

Lewie

[clarkey]

I bought the R500. I paid £23,750, which I think is a good price. It's scared me so far (I've had an R500 before but had forgotten what they are like), but why buy an R500 if you don't want to be a bit scared??

There are some more pictures here if you are interested: http://stephenclarke.fotopic.net/c895

[L100NYY]

clarkey said:

I bought the R500. I paid £23,750, which I think is a good price. It's scared me so far (I've had an R500 before but had forgotten what they are like), but why buy an R500 if you don't want to be a bit scared?? There are some more pictures here if you are interested: http://stephenclarke.fotopic.net/c895

Congratulations Stephen, you are a very lucky man. I miss my old Caterham's so very much, in particular the R400, I am very jealous of you!

Keep us posted with how you get on.

[rubystone]

I've just bought an R500 too

[clarkey]

Excellent, which one did you get? Finding it as scary as I am?

[rubystone]

Number 7 - R500 SVN. But the first thing I did was ship the engine to Minister for a refresh at the moment - better to be safe than sorry. So I've not driven it yet!

TBH R500s have never seemed that much faster than my old SLR which was a well sorted car...but this came along at such a good price I could not resist it.

[clarkey]

Very nice. Mine's just been refreshed and resprayed, so hopefully it won't need anything for a while...

This feels MUCH faster than my SLR. it could just be cold tyres and bumpy roads though....