The
Caterham Roadsport Challenge
A
brief overview of the Classes
Roadsport
Academy
This
is the first rung of Caterham’s Motorsport
ladder.
Entrants purchase a brand new fully race engineered
Caterham 7 prior to the start of the season
and campaign it through an official calendar
of 8 events.
The
cars are powered by 1600cc MG Rover XPower units
producing around 120bhp.
In a car weighing only 525Kgs this produces
an amazing turn of speed and fantastic close
racing.
Roadsport
B
A
number of enhancements over the Academy specification
cars are allowed in Roadsport B.
While
the engine and gearbox remain basically the
same, more aggressive race settings are allowed
in the technical regulations.
Changes
are made, among other things to ride height,
anti roll bar settings, a reduction in weight
(515Kgs), vastly improved tyres (Avon CR500)
and lower overall gearing.
On
track this translates into improvements to the
already startling acceleration and cornering
abilities of the Caterham 7 and a corresponding
rise in competitiveness.
Roadsport
Inter
The Roadsport
B specification car is upgraded further for
“Inters”.
Headlamps
and windscreen are removed for a surprising
improvement in aerodynamics and the suspension
system is completely revised. Widetrack wishbones
are fitted at the front increasing the track
by around 160mm and a full-race spring and damper
combination are used. Weight limit is reduced
to 505Kgs.
Roadsport
A
An Inters car is given a lift in power
and transmission upgrades for Roadsport A.
The same 1600cc XPower engine is given a performance
increase through different camshafts and an
ECU update resulting in a power output of 138bhp,
now driving through a 6-speed gearbox and a
Limited Slip Differential.
Roadsport A cars join the “Powertrain
R400 Superlight Challenge” grid for 2005.
R400
Superlight Challenge
This is the pinnacle of Caterham racing.
The cars run an 1800cc derivative of the XPower
engine which produces 200bhp. Weighing only
500Kgs this gives a power to weight ratio of
400bhp per ton resulting in blistering performance.
Running without windscreen and lighting and
on slick tyres this is the ultimate in close
fought action packed racing.
Photography
By:
Mark Eastwood (Stills) - Paul Hague (Action
sequences) - Caroline
Woodley
