So the wraps have come off the new creation from Caterham, it’s called the Caterham-Lola SP/300.R.. And rather than being a reproduction of a former classic, this is something altogether new.
As the name suggests legendary chassis makers Lola have had a fair say in what’s what, while power is provided by a tasty 2.0 litre supercharged unit from Ford, which should be good for 300bhp. It’s a Caterham, so it must weight three-tenths of sod all as well. Probably why it’s predicted 100km/h sprint time is just 2.5 seconds.
The car is actually still undergoing final development, which explains why there is currently little in the way of technical specifications. Never mind that, though, she’s a pretty snazzy looking thing and should make for a ripping drive.
The chassis has been designed to meet relevant safety requirements for racing. Which is a good thing because Caterham is planning to use the SP300R for its own one-make series beginning in 2012. Initial sights are set on a UK series, with expansion across Europe to follow.
Those hoping to turn heads on their local roads need not give up just yet. A road-legal version of the SP300R has not been ruled out. Although, with a planned production capacity of just 25 cars per year you might need to wait for a while.
More pics, video and Caterham’s official presser after the break.