Catherham R400 Challenge Gains More Entries

30 April 2004

An old Caterham racing name and a new one are set to join the Powertrain Caterham R400 Challenge from the next meeting - early June's Snetterton double-header.

Gerry Taylor, a multiple Roadsport race-winner and patron of the successful Taylor's Foundry Motor Sport team, is aiming for a spot on the Snetterton grid, as is 22-year-old former karter Matthew Blyth.

Berkshire-based Matt is the son of seasoned Caterham campaigner and ex-Formula Fordster Andy Blyth, who said: "Matt has done a couple of Roadsport races and one winter race in an R400 and he showed some strong pace. It will be in at the deep end for him but he will pick things up fast." Blyth has backing from specialist equipment manufacturer Tricool.

Taylor's aim is to set his team back on the path to R400 race victory. Last season Dillon Battistini scored four race victories for TFM on the way to championship runner-up spot. "I want to help re-establish Taylor's Foundry as one of the foremost teams in Caterham racing," said 45-year-old Gerry.

Meanwhile, JM Littman has secured backing from Penthouse magazine for further Powertrain Caterham R400 Challenge outings following his successful championship debut at Silverstone. "Silverstone was supposed to be a one-off outing," said JM, "but it whetted my appetite for more. The Penthouse backing is a trial run, so I'll be looking for a good result. Hopefully, having the Penthouse Pets supporting me will have the added effect of distracting the other drivers."

Jon Barnes, Andy Demetriou, David Dyson and Luke Stevens hold the championship top four placings currently, with just five points separating them.

*Rounds three and four of the Autosport Caterham Eurocup take place at the Nürburgring in Germany next week (7/8 May), with Clive Richards looking to repeat his double race-winning success of Hockenheim. Richards leads the R400 class title battle by six points from Mark Humphrey and Barnes, with Chris Reynalds leading the way in the Roadsport class.

Caterham Motorsport enjoys the backing of Powertrain Ltd, Autosport, Arch Motors, Bilstein, Comma, Cooper-Avon Tyres, Fairmont Insurance, Harrington Generators International, MG XPOWER, Mitchell Cotts, PTP and Stack.

See 2004 series calendar for the R400-supported British GT Championship

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