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TOP DATES & REVISED FORMAT FOR EUROCUP '08

A revised three-race format and rounds at Spa, Valencia, Donington Park and Magny-Cours are among the highlights of the 2008 evo Caterham Eurocup, the pan-European series for drivers of all racing Caterhams.

The Eurocup lights go green at the legendary Belgian Grand Prix circuit of Spa-Francorchamps in mid-May where, for the first time, the Eurocup will be a supporting event to the internationally renowned 1000km sports car race.

"Spa is always a special event on the Eurocup calendar," said Caterham Motorsport Director Magnus Laird, "and the 1000km is one of the most exciting meetings of the Spa season. It's going to prove a big draw for racers of all Caterhams."

From Belgium the Eurocup will move on to Valencia, Spain, and the UK meeting at Donington Park over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The season finale takes place at the French Grand Prix circuit of Magny-Cours in October and, with one further date still to be added to the roster, the series will feature a total of five meetings and 15 races. In November there will also be a non-championship three-hour endurance event at Paul Ricard.

Each meeting will comprise three 40-minute races, the third of which will feature a mandatory pit stop. "We can take entries from single drivers and from two-driver teams," says Laird. "If drivers wish to share and split the costs of competing, they can use the same car to each enjoy one 40-minute race, and then join forces to contest the pit-stop race."

The CSR 260 and Superlight C400 models - now revitalised by the adoption of a six-speed sequential gearbox - are expected to form the backbone of the Eurocup entry, and there will be a class also for the 1.6-litre Roadsport model, plus an invitation class for Caterhams of other specifications.

evo Caterham Eurocup provisional calendar
10/11 May, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
21/22 Jun, Valencia, Spain
30/31 Aug, Donington Park, UK
11/12 Oct, Magny-Cours, France
+1 further meeting tba

Non-championship meeting
01/02 Nov, Paul Ricard, France

Backers for Caterham Motorsport's UK and European race series include Bilstein, Brian James Trailers, Cooper-Avon Tyres, The Daily Telegraph, Demon Tweeks, evo, HSBC Insurance Brokers, Mitchell Cotts, Motorsport News and Stack.

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