Barnes Back in a Caterham R400 for Brands Hatch

19 September 2005

Reigning Autosport Caterham Eurocup Champion Jon Barnes is to return to the wheel of a Caterham R400 this weekend (24/25 Sept) at Brands Hatch after clinching a late deal with Hyperion Motorsport and crash.net to contest the A1 Grand Prix-supporting rounds of the Powertrain Caterham Challenge.

Barnes, 22, took seven race victories last year in his R400 in Europe and the UK and is currently a front-runner in the Cosworth Caterham Masters, in which he shares a CSR 260 with Luke Stevens.

He is relishing the challenge: "I love the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit and it will be great to get back in an R400 on a big stage and show what I can achieve."

Barnes will line up alongside Hyperion's Powertrain Caterham Challenge regulars Nick Payne and Nathan Bell, with Eurocup regular Simon Crompton joining the squad also.

Many of the Eurocup R400 drivers will be joining their UK championship colleagues for the rare opportunity to race on the Grand Prix circuit at Brands. A field of approaching 30 R400s and Roadsport As will be in action, led on parade by R400 class championship leader Will Mitcham in his Taylor's Foundry Motor Sport-prepared machine.

Thruxton double winner Ben Dezille Butler will be among Mitcham's biggest threats, along with Rachel Green, who this year became the first female race victor at the wheel of an R400, Snetterton winner Matt Blyth and reigning Roadsport A champion James Bromley.

Dijon Eurocup double winner Jamie Constable and his Team Parker running mate Mike Cantillon will add spice to the mix, as will returning veteran Gerry Taylor and 18-year-old newcomer Charles Bateman, who steps up to R400s with TPR after gaining Academy and Roadsport Inter experience.

In the Roadsport A class, Graham Fennymore will be looking to put championship matters beyond doubt and cement his 12-point advantage over Malcolm Barnett. Fennymore has won the class seven times from eight starts.

Backing for the championship comes from Arch Motors, Autosport, Bilstein, Cosworth, Comma, Cooper-Avon Tyres, HSBC Insurance Brokers, Mitchell Cotts, PTP and Stack

See series calendars for all 2005 Caterham Championships

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