Prizes But No Points at the Caterham Easter Trophy

06 April 2006

Easter Monday's Oulton Park Caterham races are to take on a new look following a decision to delay the start of the Autosport Caterham Superlight Challenge season.

The decision to open the twin 30-minute races to Caterham Roadsport competitors as well as to R400 and Superlight drivers was taken following the discovery of a machining error in a rogue batch of sumps.

A spokesman for engine partner Cosworth commented: "We sincerely regret the disruption caused to competitors due to this sump machining error. The problem is due to a missed machining operation by our supplier which should remove a web in the sump, allowing oil into the front scavenge pump.

"We have been able to establish exactly which engines were affected by this batch of 15 sumps. And as of 5 April half of these engines have been reworked. It is anticipated the remainder will be completed shortly."

"We were concerned that the inevitable delays involved in rectifying this problem could disadvantage some competitors, giving them insufficient time to test and set up their new Superlights," said Caterham's Director of Motorsport, Magnus Laird.

"Declaring the Oulton races to be non-championship events is, we believe, the fairest way of dealing with the problem. Hopefully everybody who wanted to race on 17 April will still be able to, but without championship points at stake it will be fairer for everyone.

"We expect to attract a good number of Roadsports to the grid of the Caterham Easter Trophy. There were 53 in action at last month's opening Roadsport Challenge rounds and I hope that a good number of them will want to come along and race on the prestigious British GT/F3 bill."

Championship officials are looking at the possibility of adding a further meeting to the Superlight Challenge calendar later in the season. The opening rounds of the Autosport Caterham Eurocup, scheduled for 21/22 April at Hockenheim, will go ahead as planned.

See series calendars for all 2006 Caterham Championships

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