Caterham's new C400 breaks cover
Cosworth-powered racer weighs just 525Kg
Caterham C400
The new 525Kg car, based on the R400 chassis and boosted by Caterham's development partner Minister Racing Engines, has already completed hundreds of laps at circuits across the UK.
Eurocup and UK Caterham Challenge frontrunner Ben Dezille Butler has undertaken much of the development driving and was impressed. "Although the test and development programme is not yet complete, the new car has demonstrated that it is significantly quicker," said Butler. "You really notice the extra torque out of the corners and on a long straight the C400's extra power means you can change gear earlier and achieve a higher top speed."
Minister boss Graham Fuller said: "We are very pleased with the way the test programme is going, although we have been occasionally frustrated by the weather. Our testing is on-going and we hope to complete it before Christmas."
Project management of the new car is being overseen by Caterham Cars director of motorsport Magnus Laird, who said: "The combination of the tried and tested R400 chassis and this potent and compact Cosworth engine is proving to be the most fantastic package - a really worthy successor to the R400."
The new engine develops 220bhp -- 20bhp more than the K-Series unit of the existing R400 model. Caterham engineering director Jez Coates said: "The larger capacity of the Cosworth engine means that it has a much greater tolerance of high temperatures and the sort of punishment it will face on the race track. The unit has just successfully undergone a 50-hour durability test at Cosworth."
The C400 will next season share UK Caterham Challenge and Eurocup grids with the outgoing R400 model. Several orders have already been received for new cars from Roadsport Challenge drivers wishing to progress up the Caterham racing ladder, and Caterham is also experiencing keen interest in kits to convert R400s to C400 specification.
Backers for Caterham Motorsport's UK and European race series include Arch Motors, Autosport, Bilstein, Brian James Trailers, Comma, Cosworth, Cooper-Avon Tyres, evo, HSBC Insurance Brokers, Mitchell Cotts, Motorsport News, PTP and Stack.
How confusing! Seemingly having reverted to the numbers in model designations meaning the power figure (CSR200, CSR260) with the Cosworth powerplant, for this they now refer to something that might be the power to weight ratio (although it isn't, as that is now 420bhp/tonne).
Those guys are crazy!
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