61 Drivers Ready for Caterham Roadsport Challenge Battle

03 March 2006

Caterham's biggest-ever Roadsport grid is assembling for the start of what promises to be a season of ultra-close racing and high drama. With three weeks to go before the 2006 Motorsport News Caterham Roadsport Challenge blasts into action, 61 drivers have signed up to contest the 16-round championship.

"It's a phenomenal turn-out," says Caterham's Director of Motorsport, Magnus Laird. "The success in recent seasons of the evo Caterham Academy in introducing new drivers to the sport has whetted many appetites, and it is fantastic to see them sticking with Caterham as they progress their track careers."

The Roadsport Challenge is split into two distinct classes and grids - Roadsport and Roadsport B - with the latter category reserved chiefly for newcomers and drivers graduating from last year's Academy. The 1.6-litre cars used in each class are mechanically similar, but premier-class cars are permitted professional team support and performance-enhancing suspension modifications, and they do not have to race in road-legal trim.

With separate races for each class at all eight of the "double-header" BRSCC-run meetings, the championship promises many hours of spectator excitement during the coming seven months. First event of the year is at Mallory Park in Leicestershire on 26 March, which is followed a month later by the series' first-ever foray to France, with a meeting at the Croix-en-Ternois circuit. Races alongside the Autosport Caterham Superlight Challenge and evo Caterham Academy at Brands Hatch in October will close the Roadsport season.

The competition for top honours in the Roadsport class couldn't be keener. Heading the long list of pre-season favourites are 2005 Caterham champions Jeremy Ellis (Roadsport B) and Luke Embling (Academy). Bromley-based Ellis, 38, was a dominant force last year, winning seven races on his way to the crown, and returns with sponsorship from Crystal Sport Holidays. Wiltshire's Embling, meanwhile, will face once more the man he beat to the Academy crown by just four points, Clive Coote, the Hertfordshire-based manufacturer of pole dancing equipment.

The list of former champions does not end there, however: 2004 Academy titlist Patrick Scharfegger (Warrington) hopes to make the most of his return to the Caterham racing after a year away.

Ranged against them will be several successful drivers from the 2005 Roadsport season, including race winner Gary Brown (Englefield Green), and B-class podium finishers Adrian Argyros (Northwich), Cheshire GP Chris Fryar and Adrian Wagstaff (Higham on the Hill).

Moving up after top-three Academy finishes are Tunbridge Wells hairdresser Toby Dicker and Hertfordshire-based banker David Bend. Former Formula Fordster Tony Hawkins (Reigate) has two years of Roadsport experience under his belt and should go well also, as should '05 Academy race-winner Gary Halcrow (Bournemouth).

Jeremy Ellis believes he will have a tough job repeating his championship-winning feat: "I won't have my closest rivals from last year to contend with, and I will miss them, but there's a very interesting mix of good drivers from various championships who I'm sure will give me a good run for my money. It should be a good season."

There's strong talent lining up on the Roadsport B grid also, with several front-runners from the 2005 Academy making the graduation. These include Bedford's Martin Emerson, Hampshire's Peter Flynn, and Lancashire jeweller Dax Humberstone. Then there's Caterham returnee Chris Du Boulay, who last raced in the 2002 Academy, winning twice.

Others to watch out for include Norfolk caterer Toby Talbot, who joins from the Silverstone Racing School, and the two-car UKIP Media-backed team comprising Graham Johnson (Windsor) and Mike Robinson (Effingham). Gary Halcrow joins fellow Dorset driver Chris Bialan in planning an assault on both the Roadsport and Roadsport B classes.

Backers for Caterham Motorsport's UK and European race series include Autosport, Bilstein, Brian James Trailers, Caged, Cheesman Products, Comma, Cosworth, Cooper-Avon Tyres, Demon Tweeks, evo, HSBC Insurance Brokers, Mitchell Cotts, Motorsport News and Stack.

See series calendars for all 2006 Caterham Championships

Related Story 24.02.2006 - F1 Man Plans Caterham Championship Bid