The Grid.co.uk    the national & club motor racing website - est1998          

  ^News

mail your links to editorthegrid@yahoo.co.uk

TECH & DATE MODS FOR CATERHAM CHALLENGES

A six-speed sequential gearbox is among the technical improvements planned for the Caterham Superlight for the 2008 season, it is announced today.

The new Quaife-developed gearbox is expected to provide Caterham's top-spec British championship car with improved performance, helping lower the Superlight's already impressive lap times, and enhanced durability.

The 12-round Avon Tyres Caterham Superlight Challenge opens for action at the end of May, to allow Caterham engineers thoroughly to validate the new 'box and associated improvements, including a new wiring loom and revised oil system. The new gearbox and technical revisions are also to be applied to the Eurocup's CSR 260 model; the on-track validation programme for both cars begins next week.

"With its 2-litre, 220 bhp Ford Duratec-derived power unit the Superlight is already a highly potent challenger," says Caterham Motorsport Director Magnus Laird. "The sequential gearbox will make it a dream to drive."

In a slight departure from recent seasons, only three of the Superlight Challenge race meetings will support the British GT and British F3 Championships. The championship's other three dates will be Caterham-themed meetings featuring rounds of the Motor Sport News Caterham Roadsport Challenge. The Caterham Academy starter series will join in also at two of them.

"It is important that our Academy and Roadsport drivers get the chance to see Superlights in action and to get involved with the championship if they wish," says Laird. "Combining some of our race dates is an excellent way of achieving this goal." The Academy's twin grids, totalling 56 cars, were filled some months ago and the Roadsport Challenge field is expected to top 70 cars this season.

As in previous seasons there will be two completely separate Roadsport Challenge grids - the 'B' division for newly graduated Academy drivers, who will enjoy two 20-minute races at each meeting, and the 'A' class for the more experienced pilots and their technically enhanced machinery, who will get twin 30-minute races.

Provisional calendars

Avon Tyres Caterham Superlight Challenge
26 May, Castle Combe
7/8 June, Snetterton F3/GT
12/13 July, Brands Hatch GP F3/GT
16/17 August, Silverstone Int F3/GT
30/31 August, Donington Park*
17-19 October, Brands Hatch Indy*

Motorsport News Caterham Roadsport Challenge
26/27 April, Croft F3
26 May, Castle Combe
14/15 June, Cadwell Park
5 July, Oulton Park*
9/10 August, Silverstone Nat*
30/31 August, Donington Park*
17-19 October, Brands Hatch Indy*
*Dates also featuring Caterham Academy rounds

Backers for Caterham Motorsport's UK and European race series include Bilstein, Brian James Trailers, Cheesman Products, Circuit Driver, Cooper-Avon Tyres, Demon Tweeks, evo, HSBC Insurance Brokers, Mitchell Cotts, Motorsport News, Stack and Steel Fabrications.