About the Caterham Graduates...

The Bookatrack.com Caterham Graduates series was started in 1998 by competitors from the 1997 Caterham Scholarship. For the first year it was called the Graduate 797 series (the first "7" for Caterham Seven, and "97" from the year that most drivers started competing). In it's first two years, it was a multi-discipline series, with the rounds being made up of sprints, hillclimbs, and circuit races, similar to the Caterham Scholarship format. The emphasis moved more and more towards circuit races, and from 2000-on the series has comprised solely of circuit races.

In 2001, the championship spawned a second class - Super-Graduates - based upon an up-rated Caterham Academy car. In 2003, Super-Graduates because Mega-Graduates and a new Super-Graduate class was formed for standard ex-Academy cars (confusing, isn't it?). Each class generally races on a separate grid, the exception this year being Spa-Francorchamps, where all classes will start together on a 62-car grid!

The cars in the series are genuinely road-going, although Mega-Graduates spec is moving away from this with the deletion of lights, and indeed a few are driven to (and hopefully) from races. Many are used by drivers mid-week for transport to work and for shopping, needing no more than the covering up of competition numbers to make them road-legal. No changes from the standard specification are allowed, putting the emphasis firmly on driving ability rather than car development and set-up. Along with low consumable costs, this keeps the costs of running a car very much under control, making it one of the most cost-effective ways to go racing. The large grid sizes are a testament to this low-cost formula, with over 100 drivers registered for the championship across the three classes. Part of the championship's popularity is due to the technical support which is available to all the drivers F.O.C. at every round - parts and expertise are provided by McMillan Motorsport.

The series is one of the largest in the country, if not the largest, with 100 registered competitors. The competitors come from a variety of backgrounds. A large number have "graduated" from the novice Caterham Scholarship and Academy series, whilst many others have made it their first foray into motorsport. Past champions include 2001 Super-Graduate champion Nelson Rowe who went on to win Caterham Roadsports A in 2002, and 2002 Super-Graduate runner-up, 19 yr old Jon Barnes who won 2004 Caterham Eurocup series.

In each class of the classes points are awarded thus: 40 for a win, 39 for 2nd place, 38 for 3rd place, right down to 2 points for finishing 39th or lower. And even a driver who fails to finish will still earn one point! At the end of the season, drivers drop their worse two scores, allow for missing a race or two, or a DNF. In addition, drivers can earn 10 championship points by completing a day's marshalling.

Race numbers represent a driver's performance in the previous season.

Numbers 1 - 50 go to Mega-Graduates, 51 - 99 to Super-Graduates and 101-on to Graduates (For instance, Garry Kennedy's number 103 indicates that he came 3rd in Graduates in 2004). Higher numbers go to those who are new to the championship or class.

As well as the overall championship for each class, there is also the "Teng Tools Three Nations Challenge". The highest scoring competitor in each class at the double-header rounds of Snetterton, Rockingham, Spa-Francorchamps and Pembrey is awarded a Teng Tools tool box full of Teng Tools.

New for 2005 is a change to Yokohama tyres. Graduates race on list 1A A539s, whilst Supers and Megas use the stickier list 1B A048R. Winter testing has shown lap times to be from a few tenths to seconds faster than the previous tyres. George Polley Motorsport provide tyre service at selected rounds.

The championship enjoys sponsorship from BookaTrack.com, Yokohama tyres, BliNK Motorsport, George Polley Motorsport, Effinat (from ex-driver Philipe Evrard), Brian James trailers, ACES shift lights, Apostolides Relocation (from driver Michaele Apostolides), ID:UK websites (Jamie Ellwood), Teng Tools and McMillan Motorsport.

Graduates

The cars in the "standard" Graduate class are Caterham Seven Classics with live-rear axles and 1600cc 8-valve engines, producing around 100 bhp - cars which originally came from the Caterham Academy between 1995 and 2000.
Engines are either from Ford (95 > 97) or Vauxhall (98 > 2000). The engines are well-matched with the Fords having perhaps a little more top speed, and the Vauxhalls having better low-down torque. (The two types of engine can be differentiated from the exhaust system, with the Fords' exiting to the rear and the Vauxhalls' to the side). The standard Graduates run on class 1A Yokohama A539s, ensuring a good balance of power-to-grip.

Highest placed drivers from the 2004 championship still in the Graduates class are Garry Kennedy (3rd) and Club Chairman Graeme Smith (4th) - confusingly there is a Graeme Smith and a Graham Smith racing in Graduates, both in green cars...

Super-Graduates

The Super-Graduate class is for cars for 2001-on Caterham Academy specification. The only changes are a swap to stickier Yokohama A048R tyres and an optional rear anti-roll bar. The cars have more modern DeDion rear suspension and 1600cc Rover K-series engines, producing 120bhp.

Highest placed drivers from 2004 staying with the class are Graduates-stalwart Nick Haryett (2nd) and Matthew Gillbanks (3rd). However, 2004 Mega-Graduate champion (and also 2001 Graduate champion) Jamie Ellwood has entered Super-Graduates this year, in an attempt to win all three classes! Eight drivers have come from last year's Caterham Academy championship, along with several other novice drivers.

Mega-Graduates

Mega-Graduate is an up-grade of the Super-Graduate car, with 140bhp thanks to some controlled engine modifications and an un-catalysed exhaust. The cars are also allowed wide-track front suspension for better handling.
Perhaps the most obvious changes are an aeroscreen instead of a full windscreen and the deletion of headlights and rear lights, giving a more "race car" look and reducing aerodynamic drag.

Chris Batten and Paul Hudson are the best-placed drivers from 2004 (second and fourth respectively).