Model:
Caterham 7 Superlight
Price:
£22 495 (about R252 000)
Engine:
1.8 litre, four cylinder X-power
Transmission:
Six-speed gearbox
Performance:
Top speed 210km/h, 0-100km/h in 4.7sec, 105kW
Fuel:
7.7 litres/100km
I admit I'm addicted to speed. So, what better fix than a run around Brands Hatch - with its undulating drags and jaw-dropping chicanes - in a Caterham 7 Superlight.
Today's Caterham is a direct descendent of the Lotus Seven, designed by the legendary Colin Chapman in the 1950's, but much has changed.
Caterham now uses Toyota and the ultra-light (formerly MG Rover) K-series engines rather than the old Ford Consul units. But the Caterham's charming looks remain.
Under Chapman Lotus Engineering was committed to minimalist design. He was obsessed with the power-to-weight ratio, like most automotive visionaries, and the Superlight sticks faithfully to his original philosophy.
It's a no-frills, no-nonsense car that offers the ultimate driving experience fresh from the factory. It's stripped of all but the essentials - windscreen, heater, and carpets are all options - and delivers telepathic steering, slick gear changes (the bespoke six-speed, close-ratio box is deliciously tight) and frantic acceleration.
The Superlight is fully road legal but the unit I'm driving has many track options. However, the stripped-out interior is standard, with carbon-fibre fascia, four-point strap and lap belt, composite race bucket seats and wind deflector in lieu of a windscreen.
So how light is the Superlight?
It weighs in at 495kg, about 50kg lighter than the Caterham 7 Roadsport; the new Mini Cooper is a hefty 1050kg. And with 105kW under the bonnet, it offers a power-to-weight ratio of almost astonishing potency.
To put it into perspective, a Porsche 911 Turbo generates a comparatively piddling 202kW/ton while the Ferrari 360 Spider has a more respectable power-to-weight ratio of 208kW/ton. But at 211kW/ton, the Superlight is not a vehicle to be taken lightly.
It takes a couple of rather ungainly minutes to squeeze into the bucket seat and a couple more to adjust the race harness but then it's foot down for the winding lanes of the Kent countryside.
Turning heads
The Superlight's power and the phenomenal growl from the engine completely magnify the experience of driving a sports car. Heads turn and cars toot as I race along and it's a heady rush even though I'm driving within the speed limit.
Through the thin layer of gently vibrating carbon-fibre barely separating me from the tarmac I can sense every line, arch and curve in the road, which is hardly surprising.
The suspension is double-wishbone at the front and De Dion at the rear, with Bilstein dampers that can be adjusted to alter the ride height, which means owners can tailor handling to their liking and the set-up can be changed depending on use.
High-performance cars
Track days at Brands are breathtaking. It's a free-for-all. Alongside the usual array of high-performance cars there is an eclectic mix that includes 4x4s, Peugeots, a 2CV and even a Renault Clio.
Helmet on, I clamber into the passenger seat beside Rob, my instructor. I can just about make out what he's saying above the din. Like deep sea diving, a lot of instruction comes down to hand signals.
After a couple of laps we're back at the pits and it's time to get behind the wheel. Again, I'm shoe-horned into the car - an event made more embarrassing as it must be performed in front of several seasoned male drivers.
Accelerate hard
Like joining a motorway, I have to accelerate hard out of the pits and on to the track while avoiding the drivers bombing past at 210km/h. Not only that but the first bend is the infamous Paddock Hill, a rising blind curve that descends sharply right (though I didn't know this at the time).
Remarkably, I manage it with all the cool and confidence of a veteran, which sort of makes up for my inability to get in and out of the car.
In no time at all, and with Rob's invaluable instruction, I am carving up bends at ridiculously serious speeds. The Superlight can slingshot its driver from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds and out on the track it seems so much faster.
The beauty of this beast
After a couple of laps I'm holding my own with the rest of the racers. I'm in fifth gear and have been since Paddock Hill and that, according to Rob, is precisely where I should be.
That's the beauty of this beast: it can handle the whole circuit in fifth.
And then, all too soon, it's over. All I want is to go out and do it again.
The Caterham Motorsport Club offers track days to anyone with a driving licence for £399 (about R4500) per person.
It could be you
The fun starts at 9am with a briefing on safety and protocol. You are then allocated a car and instructor, who will talk you through the intricacies of the circuit.
Thereafter it's a day of driving: learning about car control, circuit lapping, and on-the-limit handling.
The club also stages slalom days for individuals or groups. The slalom challenge is an against-the-clock time trial event that takes place on large areas of open tarmac.
Participants battle to get around a cone course in the fastest possible time. Drivers are encouraged to spin the wheels. They also learn how to do a tyre smoking doughnut turn around a cone to complete the course more quickly. Is there a better Christmas gift?
- For more information go to the Caterham track day web page