Caterham SP300R, driven on track - XCAR

Опубликовано 25 марта 2013, 15:58

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Take a good, long, hard look at the SP/300.R. Drink in the Lola-developed aero package capable of producing 450 kg of downforce. Try to avert your eyes away from the monstrous carbon adjustable rear wing. Notice the slick tyres on Formula three wheels, the literal breath-taking six-point harness, the F1-style steering wheel that requires a masters in engineering to truly be able to use it.

Before this day I'd never driven a car not legal for the road, a track machine so to speak. What a way to start - completely and utterly petrified, that is. I'd been re-assured that although the design gave the 'R the appearance of an £80,000 supercharged, fire-breathing racing demon that would break the back of anyone without their correct ARDS paperwork, it in fact wasn't too dissimilar from its far removed relative, the Caterham Seven. It was one thing hearing this, but with a team of mechanics working around you in the Rockingham pit lane as the air is slowly squeezed from your lungs via an ever-tightening harness as a muffled engineer briefs you through a fogged up crash helmet (a tad too much hyperventilating), you tend to think they're all liars.

Astoundingly though, they all proved to be correct, and after my initial goal of exiting the pits without looking like a rank amateur was promptly put to bed after several spectacular stalls, I found myself laughing with disbelief as I drove this thing, without too much drama, around Rockingham. It truly is a wonderful machine, and the violent downshifts, seating position and roar of the thing gave me my 15 minutes of pretending I was the world's greatest driver, having tamed an absolute beast. Then I span. Twice. Clearly I need one, donations welcome.

Written/Shot/Edited: Nick Wilkinson

Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre Supercharged 16-valve 4cyl Ford Duratec
Power: 300bhp
Torque: 213lb ft
0-62: 2.8seconds
Top Speed: 174mph

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