The 2015 season of Caterham’s five official race series reached their conclusion in a gripping finale at Silverstone on 17-18 October, with four championships going down to the wire and six champions being crowned in total.
The GQ Caterham Academy, Caterham’s introductory race series designed exclusively for rookie racing divers, saw two full grids compete for the title. The season saw the competitors gaining their race licence at the start of the season and then progress from sprint events to circuit racing. In the Green group, Rui Ferreira had already sealed the title prior to the final weekend with three wins throughout the season. Andy Perry secured the championship in the White group with a second place finish at Silverstone proving enough to secure the title.
The next step up the Caterham Motorsport ladder, the Roadsport class, saw 2014 Caterham Academy champion David Webber secure his second successive championship with four wins from 14 races.
The Tracksport class sees the cars being modified with the addition of track focussed suspension, whilst the windscreen and lights are removed to maximise speed. Coming into the final weekend Tim Dickens and Henry Heaton were level on points. In a nail biting final weekend, Dickens finished third and eighth which was enough to pip his rival to the title.
The Supersport class introduces a new driving element with the addition of a limited-slip differential and a power upgrade up to 140bhp. A second place finish in the first race of the weekend behind guest and British GT driver, Jamie Stanley, was enough for Stephen Nuttall to secure an unrivalled fourth consecutive Caterham championship. Nuttall adding the Supersport title to his Academy, Roadsport and Tracksport crowns.
The R300-S Championship is the pinnacle of Caterham Seven Motorsport and its flagship series. Competitors race in Sevens featuring a 2.0 litre Caterham Motorsport Duratec engine with 175bhp and a Sadev sequential gearbox, coupled with a limited slip differential. The 2015 title was won by former Tracksport and Supersport champion David Robinson with a dominant nine wins from 12 starts.
The season finale saw British GT4 Champion Jamie Chadwick competing in the R300-S class. She qualified on pole and finished a credible ninth and fifth in the two races. Jamie Chadwick said: “I enjoyed the experience of racing in a Seven. The quality of driving throughout the field was incredibly high and I was able to confidently race wheel to wheel with all of the competitors.”
Simon Lambert, Chief Motorsport and Technical Officer, said: “The Silverstone finale always provides the perfect climax to an exciting season of Caterham Motorsport. This season has seen numerous impressive performances and we look forward to the start of the 2016 season in April.”
Off the back of the great success of the newly introduced R300-S cars, the grid size will double in 2016. The 2016 Caterham Academy grid is full with 53 novice drivers signed up and orders for the 2017 season are already in double figures.
For more information on how to get a foot on the Caterham motorsport ladder, please visit www.uk.caterhamcars.com/motorsport.
For more information about Caterham Cars, please visit www.caterhamcars.com.
