Caterhams. We all know them. Two seater Lotus Seven derivatives with about enough luggage space to pack a round of sandwiches and little else. That's not really the point though is it? Caterhams couldn't be further removed from popping down to Tescos for the weekly shop. Every time you see a Caterham driver on the road, they look committed. With the car strapped to their back, they look as if every suburban road and speed hump is about to be taken on the racing line.

And who can blame them? These cars are drving machines in the true Chapman style and nothing else. They make no pretences, no compromises. Creature comforts are optional extras. It's been the same formula for many years now.

Caterham vs Westfield

Over that time Caterham and Westfield have competed for faster and faster implementations of the simple concept culminating in Westfield's ludicrous V8 powered SEiGHT and more recently the composite bodied FW400. This lightweight version has a 190bhp K Series engine in a 433 kg body giving a power to weight ratio of 429bhp per tonne. A Ford Fiesta has a power to weight ratio of about 80bhp per tonne!

How many horses?!

So what could Caterham do to raise the stakes once again? The next move in this game of tit for tat had to be the magic 500 bhp per tonne. Roll out the Caterham Superlight R500. First shown at the London Motor Show, the car weighs in at 460 kg. To achieve the magic 500 figure, a 230bhp engine was required. Fair enough, but a light engine producing that power? Caterham got together with Minster Race engines and nutured the incredible 230 bhp out of a Rover K series. It's a long way removed from the engines slugging a thousand reps up the M1 in their Rover 25's.

With a unique Caterham Racing inlet manifold, steel con rods and crankshaft, Cosworth forged pistons, a dry sump and a specially developed exhaust system with carbon cladding, this is a very impressive power unit that will rev to a 9,200 rpm!

Chassis

The chassis has drawn upon Caterham's experiences in GT racing with its little known 21 GT3. The front suspension includes aerofoil section wishbones, oval tubed lower wishbones and the tyres are bespoke items from Avon - Kwik-Fit take note!

21 proved useful test bed in GT racing

The minimalist design obviously reduces weight. You don't get a windscreen, you get a wind 'deflector'. You don't get a spare wheel. The rear view mirror housings are made from carbon fibre. The body panels are carbon fibre. The bellhousing is made from lightweight magnesium. The driver will no doubt have to consider his own unsprung weight before electing to become part of this experiment with the laws of physics.

Interior comforts consist of the specially designed - lightweight of course - high backed leather clad carbon fibre seat. Race derived Stack instrumentation adorns the dashboard complete with sequential shift lights.

Launch Control

Curiously for what is beyond all doubt a drivers' car, Caterham have included the option of launch control to "further improve the Superlight R500 in extreme conditions".

Simon Nearn, Caterham's Managing Director comments "We are offering traction control to feed the power in smoothly at take off, with the added benefit of increased adhesion though corners, especially in the wet."

"Caterham's policy is to build in safety features where appropriate. In addition
we are of course offering driver training which we will continue to make
compulsory for under 25s"

Bottom Line

Headline performance stats are 0-60 in 3.4 seconds and an eyewatering 146 mph top speed - although these figures only hint at the overall performance of this potent machine.

So what price for this little rascal? £30,000 will put it on your driveway. Clearly a very expensive plaything which in reality will only ever be enjoyed to its full potential on the race track. Lotus brought us the 340R. Is the R500 Britain's second purpose-built track day car?