Caterham Racing Announcement for 2007

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apologies for untidy format - cut & paste from pdf to txt... CATERHAM MOTORSPORT PLAN FOR 2007 Introduction The big news for 2007 is our celebration of the legendary 7’s Golden Jubilee. Colin Chapman’s iconic sports car has now been in continuous production since 1957 and it is with huge pride and pleasure that we mark this landmark year with a racing programme larger and more ambitious than ever before. Manufactured by Caterham Cars since 1973 and raced in dedicated championships since 1986, the Caterham 7 is the world’s most raced sports car. There are more than 700 cars registered in 20 one-make championships and classes in 11 countries, but the core of this programme remains here, in the UK and Europe. Some 200 cars take part here in our factorysupported championships, and the intention of this document is to outline the changes to format, calendars and sponsors of these championships for the 2007 season. The highlight of the year will undoubtedly be the Caterham Golden Jubilee weekend provisionally planned to take place at Donington Park at the beginning of June, where we hope to see large numbers of Caterham and Lotus 7s compete in what will be a unique and spectacular event. The forthcoming season promises to be the best yet and it is with considerable excitement that we offer you this short guide to the 2007 Caterham Motorsport Racing Ladder. STEP ONE: The Circuit Driver Caterham Academy 2007 After a long and enjoyable partnership with evo magazine, it is time for a change of title sponsor. We are delighted to announce our new partnership with Circuit Driver magazine, a specialist publication that perfectly complements and supports our aim of turning track day drivers into racing drivers. Their knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise will be of real value to our 2007 competitors. The 2007 Academy will follow a similar format to previous years, but will incorporate some new ideas and added value. Changes include the substitution of one speed event with a car control and handling day, the provision of a timing transponder, a subscription to Circuit Driver magazine, a copy of The Circuit Guide, a complimentary DVD and a smartly presented information pack. The calendar once again sees the hugely popular licensing and testing days at Castle Combe, an allnew handling day to be run by the Caterham Motorsport Club (CMC) and a variety of wonderful sprint venues, hillclimbs and racing circuits culminating in a support race at the world famous Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch in October. Having created more than 500 new racing drivers since its inception in 1995, the Academy continues from strength to strength as the most successful initiative aimed at helping novice drivers there has ever been. We are confident that 2007 will be the best year yet. STEPS TWO AND THREE: The Motorsport News Caterham Roadsport Challenge Divided into two classes with separate grids, both Roadsports and Roadsport Bs provide a natural step up from the Academy. It is here that the racing gets really serious, with ever-closer lap times separating the capacity grids. The top 15 cars on the grid are often separated by less than a second a lap in qualifying and the leading cars frequently cross the line within a few hundredths of each other at the end of the race. We welcome back our title sponsor, Motorsport News, who will continue to give us the excellent coverage and support they have given us in previous years. We look forward to the enthusiastic presence of Nairn Miller in the paddock this season, where he will once more be awarding his coveted driver of the day award to both classes. Continuing the success of 2006, the format remains very similar for ’07. With capacity grids anticipated and an excellent calendar of races at all the best UK circuits (including a recently negotiated return to Castle Combe) an exciting season is guaranteed. Both classes will share the same calendar of top UK circuits, plus a return to the popular northern French circuit of Croix-en-Ternois. With fourteen rounds planned at seven race meetings, the Bs will have a 20 minute qualifying session followed by 2x20 minute races at each meeting, while the Roadsports will enjoy the same format but with extended, 30 minute races. There will be no significant technical changes to the regulations for ’07 which will keep costs to a minimum and a new, tougher scrutineering regime will ensure fair play. Caterham Midlands are investing in additional vehicles, equipment and resources in order to enhance their level of service at race meetings and it is proposed that they will run a basic hospitality area offering a place for competitors to meet over a cup of coffee and a biscuit. This will also serve as a centre for co-ordinator Kim Denning to distribute information, present prizes and give driver briefings. As in previous years, no team support will be allowed in B, other than the central support offered by Caterham Midlands. Roadsport drivers will be able to choose support from one of the independent teams if they wish. There will be a number of race meetings shared with the Superlight Challenge and, on at least two occasions, the Academy and Eurocup as well. Demand for grid space is expected to be very high, so early pre-registration is essential if we are to have the best chance of enabling all those who wish to compete the opportunity to do so. STEP FOUR: The Avon Tyres Caterham Superlight Challenge The pinnacle of our national racing ladder, the Superlight Challenge will once more comprise two classes, Cosworth powered C400s and MG Rover powered R400s, sharing the same grid. With a fabulous calendar of seven race meetings, featuring double header races of 30 minute duration, the crowd pleasing Superlights will support a number of prestigious British F3 and British GT events at the UK’s finest circuits. Which of course will be convenient for our new title sponsor Avon Tyres, suppliers to both headline championships. I would like to extend a warm welcome to Avon, with whom we have established a close and rewarding working relationship over many years and look forward once more to the benefit of their technical support and expertise at the circuits It has been decided to impose a technical freeze, in order to consolidate the uprated specification of the C400 cars. A kit of parts to improve the cosmetic appearance of the cars will be issued prior to the start of the season upon completion of a thorough validation process that is currently being undertaken by the Caterham engineering department. This programme will see the development cars take part in an exhaustive testing schedule, which includes extended running at Estoril later this month. The engineering concerns raised during the ’06 season are being rigorously addressed and it is intended to improve the car in a number of key areas, including a more robust gearbox specification and a re-engineered catalytic converter (for use in Europe only). The calendar will allow competitors to compete in both the UK Challenge and the Eurocup should they wish and with a significant number of new cars in build and orders still being taken for ’07, a large grid is anticipated. The most significant changes planned for our 2007 programme are reserved for the Eurocup and Cosworth Masters series, which represent the final rungs on the racing ladder. Subject to a major overhaul of format, classes, grids and venues, it is hoped that following a lengthy consultation process with the key players in these series, the following proposals will find favour with all our competitors, teams and sponsors. STEPS FIVE AND SIX: The evo Caterham Eurocup The top two steps on our ladder are the CSR Masters and Eurocup championships, which for 2007 will be combined on one grid, to be called simply The evo Caterham Eurocup. We welcome long standing media partner and former title sponsor of the Academy evo magazine as our new headline sponsor for ’07 and look forward to working with them to spread the word to their readers. It has often been said that this remarkable championship is “the best kept secret in motorsport”. We look forward to evo helping us to change that. There will be three separate series: Caterham CSR Masters – for Caterham CSR 260 race cars only Caterham Eurocup Sprint Series – for Caterham C400 race cars + invitation class Caterham Eurocup Endurance Series – for Caterham C400 race cars + invitation class Race weekend format: Two-day meetings only, Friday/Saturday where possible. Where local timetabling issues permit, some testing time on Friday morning Qualifying 2 x minimum 20min sessions Race 1: Sprint 30min Race 2: Sprint 30 min Race 3: Endurance event with mandatory 90 second pit stop, 60min + 1 lap. CSR Masters Series will include all three races and will be open to both one and two-driver teams. Eurocup Sprint Series will include only the two 30min races and will be open to both one and twodriver teams. Eurocup Endurance Series will include all three races and will be open to both one and two-driver teams. Championship format. Two-driver teams: Driver 1 contests Qualifying 1 & Race 1, Driver 2 Qualifying 2 & Race 2, then they combine to contest Race 3. Drivers contesting the sprint races singly and in different cars may if desired combine to tackle the endurance race, provided they have each qualified the car being raced. Grid for Race 1 based on Qualifying 1; Grid for Race 2 based on Qualifying 2; Grid for Race 3 based on the best times from both qualifying sessions. Races 1 & 2 will be 30-minute non-stop sprint events. Race 3 (60 minutes) will feature a mandatory 90-second pit-stop for all cars. Refuelling not permitted. Scoring: There will be three separate titles, the Caterham CSR Masters title, the Eurocup Sprint title and the Eurocup Endurance title. Masters scoring will take into account all 21 races. The score from one race may be dropped. Eurocup Sprint points will be awarded in each class in all 14 sprint races. The score from one race may be dropped. Eurocup Endurance points will be awarded in all 7 endurance races, again in each class. The score from one race may be dropped. Tyres: Existing slick and wet tyres will be retained for CSR, but a maximum of eight slick tyres to be nominated at the beginning of each race weekend. Existing CR500s to be retained for C400s and invitation class entries. Fuel tanks: C400 cars wishing to compete in the Endurance Series will require a high capacity 55 litre fuel cell. Parts supply: Building on the success of his part supply programme in 2006, Darren Phillips will once again be attending the Eurocup meetings to ensure that competitors have all the parts they need. Co-ordination and race organisation: As a result of the merged grid, we sadly must say goodbye to Rick and Chrissie and would like to thank them very much indeed for all their hard work in establishing the Cosworth Masters championship over the last two seasons. In order to ensure the smooth running of the race weekends across Europe, we have appointed a new permanent Clerk of the Course, BRSCC Chairman Bernard Cottrell, who will be at all the meetings to see that none of our regulations and procedures are “lost in translation” in the various countries we visit. The championship co-ordinator will be Nick Carter, ably assisted by Ros Jones. Together with Bernard, they will make a strong team. The new Eurocup completes the six steps of the Caterham Motorsport Racing Ladder for 2007. On a general note, I am delighted to announce that internal re-organisation of the engineering department will see the entire motorsport programme benefit from enhanced dedicated technical support in ’07. Following the departure of Jez Coates, mid-season, there have been difficult times for competitors and organisers alike this season and it is with both relief and excitement that we can look forward to the benefits of this substantial new investment programme. The fantastic TV package that will see a variety of the best Caterham racing broadcast to a worldwide audience via satellite, the continued sealed engine programme for all series, the dedicated eligibility scrutineering programme, the specialist motorsport PR programme from Max Communications, Alan Sycamore’s hospitality operation in the Superlight paddock, the dedication of the Caterham Midlands team in both Roadsport and Academy, our competition parts service in Europe and the best support staff in the business, all combine to make Caterham Motorsport the phenomenal success that it has become over the last 21 years. We sincerely hope that in this milestone Jubilee year, there will be something here for everyone and that we can look forward to a memorable and enjoyable seasons racing, the first in the next 50 years of the Caterham story. On behalf of the entire Motorsport team, the board of directors and the numerous support staff that make it all possible, please accept our sincere thanks for your continued loyalty and support, without which there would be no Caterham racing. Magnus Laird Director of Motorsport Caterham Cars Ltd