Friday 26th August 2005

Track club opts for Caterham CSR

Super-fast lightweight beats older Porsche

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Caterham CSR

Track-club members have voted for the Caterham CSR 260 over the Porsche 968 in the club's recent poll (see link below) to decide on a new car for the track car hire fleet. Members voting took place over a week and came down decisively in favour of the new Caterham.

However, almost all who voted asked that the 968 remain on the shortlist of cars for future votes, acknowledging that the 968 was a great car but the opportunity of driving the latest Cosworth-powered Caterham was just too strong an option.

The 260bhp car is capable of 60mph from rest in a fraction over 3 seconds, with the aerodynamics taking their toll at 155mph. The club has now specified its car and, in line with the rest of the fleet, it will be painted Caterham Orange.

Other options include:

• FIA roll bar
• Plumbed in fire extinguisher
• Push-button start
• Limited-slip differential.

A few cosmetic options will be added but the club has opted not to go for the integrated dash option -- which costs almost £1,300.

What next?

Once built, the car will be run in and then set up by a professional driver prior to being released on to the hire fleet. The club aims to get the CSR on track as soon as physically possible although it reckoned that a modified exhaust setup will probably be needed to meet increasingly stringent noise limits at circuits such as Donington Park and Castle Combe.

Stephen Docherty of track-club said: "Feedback from members suggests that the CSR will be a more popular car than the Radical which whilst staggeringly fast (track-club runs a 252bhp SR3 Supersport) it does not suit all circuits and requires a lot more care and attention that more conventional track machinery."

Stephen said that the CSR suits the fleet as the club's current Caterham is a RoadSport B and does not accommodate larger drivers easily.

"We had planned to add an SV-bodied Caterham for 2006, so the arrival of the CSR will kill two birds with one stone", he said. "It is important that we keep a varied fleet and continue to add to it as the membership grows, like the Ariel Atom and the Radical the CSR will be a significant attraction and will hopefully encourage more to join up.

"We will shortly launch a simple monthly payment plan to make membership more affordable and we expect this along with the CSR to bring new members over the autumn. It is track-club’s policy to continue to add to the fleet as membership grows and to consult members in the selection of new track cars."

Daily track car hire costs from £70 per day based on joint membership. In addition to the membership options, daily track car hire is available from £495 inclusive of fuel and insurance.

Contact Stephen Docherty on 0870 24 25 402 or email [e-mail]

Links

• www.track-club.com
• Original vote story

[Neil Benson]

I had the Arial Atom out at Silverstone on Wednesday. It didn't stop raining all day, and the rain seemed to ruin the day for at least one Porsche 911GT3 driver.

Given that every track day I've attended with a track-club car has experienced torrential rain, I'm not so sure another open top car was such a great vote after all!

But roll on the Caterham - I can't wait.

[dannylt]

Out of interest why does the SR3 not suit some circuits? The contrast between driving the two should be great fun - similar weight and power and complete contrast in balance and downforce!

[sdd]

The SR3 is a great track car but it's actually physically a big car and for some circuits like Angelsey or Mallory it's not actually that much fun (it's still fast). The Caterham in theory while still extremely quick should feel a bit more at home.

It's not a reference to either cars overall speed around the track more a comment about how much fun you would have on the day.

The CSR will be available to drive at the fortcoming track-club Open Day on Sunday 25th September. More details from [e-mail]

Stephen

[dannylt]

The SR3 is only a few inches wider, but I know what you mean - it feels much bigger. There is only a single downforce corner at Anglesey, and the Caterham feels so much lighter around there. But I would argue 250bhp without downforce is far more fun anywhere, anyway (ex SR3 owner, now Caterham)

[sdd]

Absolutely, it's horses for courses but that is probably the reason that we've ended up with an SR3 and a CSR 260, we'll be organising a day shortly where people can try both back to back.

Stephen

www.track-club.com

[nickytwohats]

Steven

Is the 25th full yet?

[nickytwohats]

Sorry - Stephen

[sdd]

Three places left at the moment.

Stephen

[adrianr]

Would be interested in CSR/Radical day, but somewhere other than Bruntingthorpe if poss?

AdrianR

[sdd]

This is in planning at the moment and will probably be Donington and will be limited to 5 people.

Stephen