RE: Racing A Caterham R300

[pw75]

Banjo47 said:

For A's, BRSCC membership £150, caterham entry £500, race insurance £1600 (£2000 excess) Race fees £450 per meeting (x8). Most A competitors will have an annual Minister engine and gearbox rebuild (approx £4000) plus the usual tyres, fuel, testing, hotels, beer, food, and the impossible to figure .."damage". I have heard that R300's are actually cheaper to maintain. I am sure Mr Faulds will be along in a minute to elucidate!

Basically I think FS have very successfully demonstrated you don't need to engine rebuild (with JL winning at spa on an engine with 170 hours), and that people who have had an engine rebuild have gained nothing (currently) other than piece of mind and a lighter wallet. In RSA the difference between an old engine and a new engine is significant and if you are a title challenger you will almost certainly factor a rebuild. With a new engine £2.5k in 300's its cheaper to buy new than rebuild anyway.

I had planned a rebuild or refresh at the end of the year, but my gearbox was showing signs of problems and as it was out I had it refreshed to save doing it again end of season. I can't say my car is any quicker in a straight line than it was before.

As far as I am aware there was only one serious crash that required arch's intervention, and that was an incident all on its own. 6 of the 7 rounds I finished with all my wings intact, and my nose cone apart from a few flies was at the painters intended.

Tyre usage was excellent as well. I put a new set on for spa, did testing, race, days testing at silverstone gp, race and still had enough on for testing at snetterton. They are/were lasting very very well.

[RacingPete]

Thanks for all the costs guys, it is really hard when choosing a championship for the new year to truly get the costs for a whole season (and I mean being competitive in the series)

So if you can afford the initial outlay for the R300 (and the insurance for writing it off) it is just as cheap as racing in any other Caterham series?

So my back of a beer mat calculations are coming in as follows

- Look away if you are of nervous disposition.

One off Season Costs
BRSCC: 1 of these = £150
Championship Entry: 1 of these = £500
Insurance: for whole season = £2,500

Race Meeting Costs
Race Entry: entry for double header = £450
Tyres: 1 set per weekend = £430
Race Fuel: 100-litres a weekend = £110
Hotels: 2 nights = £100
Food: Lunch and meal = £50
Tow Fuel: Average 300 miles per weekend = £60

7 x Rounds of this @ £1,200 = £8,400
Plus £500 extra for Europe race = £8,900

The Dangerous Damage Costs
Cycle Wing: Unlucky 5 a season = £245
Rear Wing: Unlucky 2 a season = £200
Nose: Unlucky 2 a season = £300
Radiator: Unlucky 1 a season = £425
Other Repairs: Bits and bobs = £1000
Gearbox Rebuilds: 2 a season = £600
New Engine: Just in case for worse case = £2,600

The optional further testing:
Testing: 10 days = £2,100
Track Day Fuel: 100-litres a day = £1,125
Tow Car Fuel: 5 trips average 300 miles = £300

FINAL COSTS
Thus Car = £29,000 (All the trimings and I am sure there is a way to finance that)
Racing = £17,420
Testing = £3,525 (but this can be limited if costing too much)

Does that sound about right guys, oh and I am very sorry for those that don't think about this and just pay for it anyway (I use to be like that once - damn marriage and impending kids!)

ETA: Added the extra costs

Edited by RacingPete on Friday 30th October 17:39

[RacerMDR]

Hi Pete

I'll fingers crossed be on the grid next year too in R300s.

Your costs agree mostly with mine for what you have there - but other things you might want to consider

Gearbox rebuilds - I think a couple a year (300 each??)

Then what about transporting the car to the races and test days?

Also - I presume you are going to mechanic the car yourself? as you haven't factored in pro support?

You'll need things like oil changes, brakes etc

Plus the car - are you going to build it yourself? A team will charge for that

I'm sure someone that knows alot more about it than me will be along shortly - I'm only sticking my nose in as i'm working through costs for myself

Edited by RacerMDR on Friday 30th October 15:59

[peter-2006]

I've just added mine up and having also run a car this year I have a pretty good understanding of the cost.

You're not to far away for a privately run car if you watch what you spend the only thing worth thinking about adding in is labour charges for any additional work during the season unless you plan on doing this yourself.
Next year there is also going to be a round over in Europe so don't forget to add in the ferry/tunnel cost and additional fuel cost and maybe an extra day in a hotel depending on the timetable.

For speed of the car and fun I still don't think there is much to come close. The difference between the 300's and A's in minimal apart from the car cost. The A's can work out more expensive if you need to have an engine rebuild.

[Banjo47]

Oh no! Now I know how much it all costs! Damn!!!
Fortunately I dont think my wife hangs around these forums.

[RacingPete]

RacerMDR said:

Gearbox rebuilds - I think a couple a year (300 each??)

OK, will add two of those in for the year (does that include labour?)

RacerMDR said:

Then what about transporting the car to the races and test days?

That was in the Tow Car fuel, but didn't do this for track days (not sure how the format works as at the Snetterton round it was the day before and thus not much extra costs), but probably over half are at another time, so will add 5 more days of fuel for that

RacerMDR said:

Also - I presume you are going to mechanic the car yourself? as you haven't factored in pro support?

I have a very good mechanic friend who helps out, so between us we were hoping to be able to run as a privateer

RacerMDR said:

You'll need things like oil changes, brakes etc

Hoping the bits and bobs £1000 would cover this.

RacerMDR said:

Plus the car - are you going to build it yourself? A team will charge for that

That would be my plan, but would take a lot of sorting out to make sure this is practical - place in London to do it is hard to find, so may take week off work and do it in one go with a friend at my parents house... what is the man-hours for a total car build, I am guessing around 80 hours? (though real finger in the air job)

[RacingPete]

peter-2006 said:

Next year there is also going to be a round over in Europe so don't forget to add in the ferry/tunnel cost and additional fuel cost and maybe an extra day in a hotel depending on the timetable.

For speed of the car and fun I still don't think there is much to come close. The difference between the 300's and A's in minimal apart from the car cost. The A's can work out more expensive if you need to have an engine rebuild.

Actually might add in the cost of new engine into my budget just in case, trying to get a worse case costing scenario.

[pw75]

ug, I can't believe you've laid it all down in one place. Are you insane..!!!

Looks about right. Regs plans out today mean next year engine rebuilds are banned in another effort to reduce cost. Caterham can rebuild them or sell you another for £2.5k.

On the otherside I've yet to see a series as close and competitive at those sort of speeds for the money where a privateer stands pretty much the same chance as someone on a team. Ok the teams make it a lot easier and less to worry about but ultimately its down to the nut behind the wheel.

Believe we are now at 20 odd already for next year.....

[pw75]

Start race 2

[MikeDH]

Lot more here. http://www.caterham.co.uk/assets/html/motorsport/m...