Studio 397 has just announced another new addition to its PC driving simulation title rFactor 2 today (4th August 2022) and it’s good news for fans of slipstream battles and pack racing. The Caterham Academy car.
The Caterham Academy car is based on the company’s inimitable Seven model and is an open-wheel sportscar related to Colin Chapman’s original 1957 Lotus design.
Caterham Cars, a prominent Lotus Seven dealer in the sixties and seventies, purchased the rights to manufacture Sevens from Chapman in 1973, and the company has carefully refined the design through the following decades to the present day.
Focusing on lightweight agility, Caterham Sevens offer cost-effective driving thrills, and can even be purchased in kit form for a slight discount. It currently produces four road-going models – the 170, 360, 420 and 620 – ranging from 84bhp to 310bhp.
Alongside road cars, Caterham runs a motorsport ecosystem, supplying nearly 1,000 racers worldwide, including an all-inclusive package for entry-level racing drivers via its Academy Championship, using this very model.
Drivers can take part in the real-world Academy Championship from £32,995, with the rFactor 2 version set to be even more affordable as it’s completely free.
With 125bhp and a minimum base weight of 625kg, Caterham Academy racing places an emphasis on momentum conservation, with close slipstreaming battles a common feature throughout the championship’s rich history.
The British sportscar will be ready to drive as part of the platform’s busy Q3 2022 content drop, with a historic Mini Cooper race car and World Wide Technology Raceway – oval and road course – already slated for release on 8th August.
More Caterhams in the future
Just like the historic Mini announcement teasing the future addition of the contemporary JCW race car, the Caterham announcement blog states:
“The August update will introduce the Caterham Academy, with further models from the Caterham racing range set to be introduced as part of future quarterly update build releases.”
The current Caterham racing line-up starts with Academy, then rises through Roadsport, 270R and 310R, before capping out at the top-spec 180bhp 420R.
Without further details, any number of these could be coming to rFactor 2. If not all, let’s hope for an entry-level, mid-spec and top-of-the-range variant to deliver a learning curve for some close Competition System online races.
Are you looking forward to chucking the virtual Caterham Academy car around some of the British tacks? Let us know in the comments below. A release date has not been confirmed, but judging by the Mini launching on 8th August, expect the Caterham at the same time.
Caterham Academy Specifications
- Caterham tuned Ford Sigma eninge, 1596cc, 4-cylinder, naturally aspirated.
- Max Power (bhp/rpm): 125 @ 6,800rpm
- Max Torque (Nm/rpm): 150 @ 4,800rpm
- Weight: Minimum 625kg including the driver
- Five-speed gearbox
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