The Caterham Academy is an incredible starting point for anyone who’s ever wanted to enter the world of motorsport. Launched in 1995, this series is designed exclusively for novice drivers, giving people with no racing experience the chance to be on the track in a proper race car. Over 1,300 drivers have gone through the Academy so far, making it one of Europe’s most popular novice series.
How The Caterham Academy Works
For around £38,990, you get everything you need to start your journey into motorsport. That includes a Caterham 7 – a lightweight, road-legal race car with a 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine that generates 125bhp. Although this is completely road-legal, this is 100% a race car and can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds.
Obviously, the speed and power are exciting but, the Academy isn’t just about fast cars. Your car is specifically designed to help you learn car control with its low-grip tyres and open differential, so you can really get to grips with racing.
As well as the car, you’ll receive comprehensive support from the Caterham team. This includes your ARDS (Association of Racing Drivers Schools) test to get your racing license, a pre-season track day, and a full season of racing with seven rounds and one sprint.
The races are short, typically 20 minutes each, but long enough for you to develop your skills on a real circuit.
One of the Academy’s key benefits is its inclusive, all-in-one package. Once you sign up, the Academy includes technical support at every race, a race license, trackside guidance, and access to a community of fellow novice racers. No professional team support is allowed, which keeps things affordable and ensures a level playing field for everyone.
There is also a big focus on progression. After completing your first season, you don’t have to stop racing. Most drivers upgrade their Academy cars and move up to the Caterham Roadsport Championship, where the competition gets a bit tougher. From there, you can go even further, progressing to the 270R and 310R championships, all while keeping the same car with incremental upgrades.
The Academy Racer
In 2024, Caterham launched The Academy Racer, a video series following motorsport presenter Samantha Parker as she takes on her journey as an Academy driver. This series highlights what it’s really like to step into the world of racing, offering a behind-the-scenes look at everything from the pre-season nerves to the excitement of race day. It’s also part of Caterham’s efforts to inspire more diversity in motorsport, particularly by encouraging more women to get involved.
“Being part of the Caterham Academy this year as a racer, while doing my motorsport presenting will be a challenge, but it’s one that I am more than ready to take on, and I know I’ll have the support of the Caterham team along the way.
“We have racers who are of all ages and backgrounds competing this year, and it’s inspiring to be able to go on this journey with them this season.”
“The statistics don’t lie; last year a report found female participation currently represents on average about 10% across all categories of competition.
“A lack of female role models is often seen as a barrier for participation in the sport. ‘The Academy Racer’ video series won’t simply solve these barriers, but our hope is by documenting Sam’s journey this season we can showcase the fun, friendly, inclusive, and supportive atmosphere anyone can enjoy by entering the Caterham Academy.”
“Sam has been a role model for this brand for 20 years, so we are excited to finally have her compete in a season and continue to drive excitement for audiences as our presenter.”
Simon Lambert, Chief Motorsport and Technical Officer
The Caterham Academy
The Caterham Academy is a great opportunity for anyone looking to break into motorsport without the hefty price tag usually associated with racing. You will get race experience, a community of other drivers at the same level as you, and your very own Caterham Seven!
The Academy is looking for new drivers for the 2025 season – all the information can be found here.
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