SEVEN TO SMASH RECORDS AT DONINGTON PARTY

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SEVEN TO SMASH RECORDS AT DONINGTON PARTY

Ben Corley | May 27, 2007

330 Lotus & Caterham Sevens will race at a record-breaking event at Donington Park next weekend (2/3 June) to celebrate the Seven’s 50th anniversary.

Believed to the the largest ever gathering in Britain of racing cars from a single make, the Seven’s Golden Jubilee and the number of entries received to date eclipses the three Caterham Festivals held in 2000, 2002 and 2004.

“We are very pleased to see so many entries for what will certainly be the greatest automotive birthday celebration ever held,” said Magnus Laird, Caterham Motorsport Director. “There will be 21 races featuring drivers from nine countries, including France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and South Africa, and they will all, I am sure, provide some breathtaking action.”

Hundreds of road-going cars will be in attendance in addition to the 330 racing Sevens. This will make the Seven’s 50th birthday bash the largest-ever gathering of the machine which Lotus founder and automotive design genius Colin Chapman unveiled in 1957.

In addition to the two days of thrilling race action visitors will be able to see a multitude of static displays, including a collection of historic Lotus and Caterham Sevens owned by Caterham founder Graham Nearn, plus historic Lotus Formula 1 cars owned by Clive Chapman’s Classic Team Lotus and cars from the Historic Lotus Register.

Highlights include:

evo Caterham Eurocup
A capacity grid of 36 is expected for Caterham’s European Series for the CSR 260 and Superlight models, with two 30-minute sprint races plus a one-hour endurance event on the schedule. In the CSR class Richard Hay and Clive Richards will be defending their points lead from a renewed assault from the Acre Jean/Hyperion team, which has recruited single-seater and GT race winner Phil Glew to partner Oliver Bull for the remainder of the season. In the Superlight division Graham Fennymore will be out to extend his overall lead in the face of opposition from series returnee and 2006 Eurocup race winner Ted Murray.

Avon Tyres Caterham Superlight Challenge
Reigning Champion Graham Fennymore - having missed the opening event to concentrate on his Eurocup campaign - returns to take the fight to championship leader Will Mitcham, the Oulton Park double victor. But both men will be under pressure from such as Peter Ratcliff, Rachel Green and ‘06 Roadsport Champion Gary Halcrow among a field of approaching 30 cars.

Colin Chapman Trophy Race / Trophée Lotus
A 30-car grid of Lotus Sevens, early crossflow-powered Caterhams, as well as a Lotus XI, many of them French owned and driven, will bring the Seven’s heritage to life at Donington; two 30-minute races are scheduled.

Coupe Caterham France
Vincent Beltoise, the 16-year-old nephew of 1970s Grand Prix winner Jean-Pierre Beltoise, is among the French Caterham contingent. Vincent Beltoise, the son of Caterham’s French Motorsport agent, Corinne Beltoise, is in his maiden season of competition.

Motorsport News Caterham Roadsport Challenge
With 40-plus cars vying for grid space the Roadsport racers will get three separate races with each driver taking part in two of them. Jeremy Ellis is the so-far unbeaten leader of the championship class. In Roadsport B, Silverstone double race victor Gareth Thomas heads the pack to Donington.

Circuit Driver Caterham Academy

Ben Atkinson-Willes

The Academy drivers will be tackling their first-ever race, having started their maiden seasons with sprint events and a hillclimb. Nineteen-year-old Ben Atkinson-Willes is the Group 1 Academy championship leader, while in Group 2 JJ O’Malley, having proved his prowess by winning both his speed events, will need to display superior race tactics also to maintain his points lead.

BookaTrack.com Caterham Graduates Championship
In excess of 100 Caterham Graduates club members have entered to take part in three separate races for the Classic, Super Graduate and Mega Graduate divisions. Jamie Ellwood - a championship winner in all three of the Caterham Graduates classes - will be in action, as will Oliver Jackson and Martin Amison, who will be back in action for the first time since their major 2006 accident at Spa.

Qualifying starts at 0935 Saturday with racing from 1415. Sunday’s action starts at 0900. Ticket prices and availability: adult admission charge on each day is £12, children 15 and under go free. Tickets can be ordered in advance from the Donington Park booking line on 01332 819527. Seven owners can take advantage of a two-for-one ticket deal by downloading a special voucher from www.caterham.co.uk

Circuit location: Donington Park is situated close to Nottingham East Midlands Airport, near M1 J23a and M42/A42 J14. Circuit website www.donington-park.co.uk