Tag: Caterham Motorsport

Balancing everything on a race weekend can be hectic – so much to remember with car prep, maximising a qualifying run, fuel strategy, racing lines, learning a new circuit – there is a lot to do for most people. Some love the extra challenges. Caterham Drift Instructor and Roadsport driver Sam Parker is one of those who will say yes to almost anything put her way!

“My journey with Caterham, it winds back to quite a long time ago actually – it’s been 22 years since I first started to work for Caterham. I started as a promotion girl and ended up working on the Caterham stand at a car show in 2003 – then they asked me to look after hospitality and guests on experience days they ran. I really enjoyed it and got on well with the team, I then became one of their drift instructors before too long and that’s something I love doing to this day.”

It didn’t stop there for Sam, with the demand of online coverage and the live streaming presence growing on the BARC channels a vacancy opened for a presenter and Caterham knew where to go knocking.

“Four years ago I was asked if I wanted to do some presenting for the live stream shows – which I had never done before. I guess I was a familiar face in the paddock and someone approachable and someone who knew the competitors and about the cars. I love doing it. Things just kept snowballing as not long ago they wanted to add to my weekend. Caterham asked me whether I would race in the Caterham Academy – I couldn’t turn that down either! What an awesome opportunity. But I was having such a great time presenting, I didn’t want to give that up, as I loved it too much – so I thought, I am just going to have to manage both parts. It gets interesting, not going to lie!”

But how does she do it? It’s hard to keep up with a busy BARC weekend at the best of times, let alone race and then jump out the car having to know what’s coming next or who finished where. How does she keep up with everything?

“Because I am so familiar with it all now I like to think it comes quite easy but it is a lot to balance. I started in 2022 with the presenting, and got to know all the familiar faces as people have stayed around the paddock for a good number of years and move up the ladder so I got to know who’s, who – where people are in the championship and I do refresh myself before a race weekend. It’s good to know in your back pocket who’s leading, what’s the difference in points, especially now in the latter part of the season. Being at Snetterton last weekend we had the Academy – I try and get involved in the Academy as much as possible as well – as I am a mentor for them as I did it not long ago. If they need any advice or contacts to help make their first steps in motorsport a little easier I want to help. I can’t sit still, I like to be busy!”

So let’s play out a scenario… how do you find racing and then jumping in front of the camera within seconds?

“When I finish my race, after the chequered flag on the cool down lap, I am looking ahead depending on what circuit we are at so I know when I come into Parc Ferme or into the Pit Lane I switch into presenter mode and completely forget about my race, even if I have had a bad one! You just have to. If I don’t finish, and touch wood that doesn’t happen as I have finished every race so far, there is another presenter from BARC there just in case but I am already thinking on that last lap about what to say and who to go and speak to. I suppose that’s my prep time.”

What do you love about the role so much? Most people want to shy away from the camera?

“I love interviewing my lot [Roadsport drivers] as I know them so well. I race against them – know all the backstories. They even turn it around and ask how my race went! You never know what you are going to get and there is so much to talk about after a race as well – it’s good to hear it raw and straight away from your competitors. It’s such a great atmosphere, the buzz of doing both is really special. It’s a challenge, but I am exhausted by Monday morning!”

The Caterham ladder are back in action this weekend for a one day, action-packed meeting at Oulton Park. Join Sam and the rest of the team for full coverage from the Cheshire venue.

Every now and then a bright idea is formed – a brainchild if you will. How that plan works out in reality is another question altogether. Last weekend at the British Automobile Racing Club meeting at Snetterton, an idea really did turn into reality as Caterham lined-up 26 cars from their usual Roadsport, 270R and 310R roster and put them all together to scrap amongst themselves… but there was a twist.

Saturday morning at 11:45 local time – the lights went out on the inaugural two-hour Caterham Grand Prix. The race was on, but how did we get to that point? Simon Lambert, Chief Motorsport Officer & Head of Customer Engagement at Caterham Cars – tells us about that penny dropping moment.

“The idea actually came from listening to the qualifying session on the radio for the British Grand Prix last year when I was driving to a friend’s house. They were having a conversation about how long Grand Prixs are – because they are funny length – they are neither sprint nor endurance. I automatically thought how that would work for Caterham. I thought – why not have a Caterham Grand Prix – and my thoughts went racing and it all went from there.”

Usually the Roadsport, 270R and 310R versions of the British sports car are all kept at arms length from each other but last week – they would all fight amongst themselves for the very first time. But the 310R car is a lot quicker than a Roadsport category car you might ask? Well Simon had an answer for that…

“We knew we would have to have multiple classes – and then there was the headache of how do you deal with that. The idea of mandatory pit stops came up and different pitstop lengths for the classes. We haven’t been to the 200 layout at Snetterton for years, and that made it difficult to work out how long each class pitstop lengths should be. We only had testing on Friday and Qualifying on Saturday morning to go off and make a decision. We got the spreadsheets out quickly to see how many more seconds to handicap the faster cars with minimum pit stop times and from there we just had to see how it played out on the road.”

The grid lined-up ready for the rolling start on Saturday and featured a mix of two-driver teams and ‘hero’ athletes that were ready to brave it alone and wrestle the rear-wheel-drive rockets from start to finish. As it was a non championship round – everyone could let their hair down, enjoy some seat time and close racing. But as it was a Grand Prix… there had to be a prize to fight for. As well as podium glory the winning driver or team would receive an extra special something from Caterham. The race was on!

“With it being a Grand Prix we wanted to put up a nice prize for charity. We were at Snetterton for the Academy class anyway so we had the ability in the schedule to add this race on and give it a try. We offered a £1,000 prize for the charity of choice for the winner. Everyone enjoys racing – but championships add a bit of pressure – this was just fun. Whoever won everyone was going to be happy for, as a charity was going to benefit.”

Charlie Lower and Henry Senior claimed the inaugural pole, but once the green flag was waved – it was a journey into the unknown. The drivers went wheel-to-wheel in captivating fashion through the two-hour race. Harrison Cavers underlined why he is one of the leading lights in the 270R ranks as he charged to victory, more than 15 seconds ahead of the 310R pairing of James Emson and Edward Drake. Completing the podium was Roadsport racer Scott Helme, who was only ten seconds back in arrears.

Such was the competitiveness of the race that the top three spots saw one car from each championship represented.

“I would have loved it to have been even closer, but yes it showed we weren’t too far off getting everyone fairly equal. A safety car would have helped in the mid part of the race – but to get all three classes on the podium was perfect.”

When the chequered flag dropped, it ended the months of planning and preparation from Simon and the Caterham team – but did it deliver what they hoped?

“It went really well – I am over the moon. It’s been a learning curve for us all including me to organise this event. Everyone had a fantastic time and I have already been asked – when can we do it again, some asking about going even longer… which I take as a good sign! By the initial feedback everyone had a great race.

For more information on future Caterham events and how to get involved yourself – head to www.caterhamcars.com/en/motorsport

Caterham has announced that its top-tier racing series, the Caterham Seven Championship UK, will join the British Touring Car Championship support bill at Silverstone on September 23/24 next year. 

Having already announced that it will race with the British Automobile Racing Club in 2023, Caterham will write the latest chapter in the illustrious motorsport history by competing on the TOCA package for the first-ever time. 

In what is poised to be the championship finale for the one-make series next year, a highly skilled grid of Caterham competitors will have the opportunity to showcase their talents not only in front of a bumper trackside audience but also live on ITV4.

Simon Lambert, Caterham’s Chief Motorsport & Technical Officer, said: “To be able to associate ourselves with one of the most prestigious racing series on the planet is an historic landmark moment for our brand.

“Our racers will not only get the opportunity to race at Silverstone, they’ll also be competing on mainstream television and in front of the fantastic crowds that attend BTCC events.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, added: “It’s a great opportunity for the Caterham Seven Championship UK to join the TOCA package for our event at Silverstone next season. 

“I’m sure they will enjoy the great atmosphere and exposure that the BTCC brings with it, whilst our loyal fanbase will enjoy the fantastic entertainment that Caterham racing so often delivers!”

Caterham Motorsport, the UK’s largest factory-backed family of championships, will move to the British Automobile Racing Club for the 2023 season and beyond. 

Moving across from the BRSCC, the Kent-based sports and racing car manufacturer Caterham Cars Ltd has become a powerhouse on the national motorsport scene since its inception in 1995, operating five championships which currently boasts nearly 200 registered drivers. 

Furthermore, the hugely successful ‘Caterham Academy’ novice-exclusive series has seen more than 1,200 ordinary people become racing drivers.

Building on the foundation of the Academy, Caterham has assembled a ‘ladder’ of championships progressing through Roadsport, Seven 270R, and Seven 310R to its flagship series, the Caterham Seven Championship UK, a one-class series for the brand’s top Seven 420R race car which is on pace with GT4 cars.

Characterised by big grids, low running costs and exceptionally close racing; tightly controlled regulations ensure that Caterham Motorsport provides one of the most level playing fields in motor racing.

Simon Lambert, Chief Motorsport and Technical Officer for Caterham, said: “We have enjoyed a long and successful partnership with BRSCC for more than three decades and I could not be more grateful for the work that the dedicated HQ and regional teams have done to keep our customers racing. 

“Making the move to a new club has not been an easy decision, but as we continue to grow and step up our service, we feel the BARC are more closely aligned with our goals.” 

“We are thrilled that Caterham Cars have chosen to race with BARC,” added Ben Taylor, BARC Chief Executive. “This is really positive news and demonstrates the work that has gone into evolving our race organisation business over the last few years. 

“We have put a great focus on delivering for our Championships and Competitors, which has led to improved calendars, a commitment to quality live streaming and a financial model that returns a proportion of the revenue to successful Championships. We can’t wait to start racing with Caterham Motorsport.”

To find out more information on Caterham Motorsport, head to https://www.caterhamcars.com/en/motorsport.