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Base price £42,995
2026 CATERHAM ACADEMY
Our Dealer Principal, Ian, competed in the Academy in 2021 and wrote a blog about his experience – read about it here.
What is the Caterham Academy?
The Caterham Academy is a unique, all-inclusive racing series designed exclusively for novice drivers. It's an 'introduction to motorsport' package that includes a road-legal race car, a race licence, technical support, the racing experience itself, and—perhaps most importantly—the guidance of the Caterham team every step of the way.
For 2026, the Academy car sees notable updates, most significantly the introduction of the HORSE 1.3-litre engine, delivering approximately 130HP. This is paired with a 6-speed gearbox and a limited-slip differential. Retained is the standard chassis running on low-grip tyres—designed to help drivers learn car control.
The Academy series is extremely popular, having sold out every year since its inception in 1995. To date, around 1,350 novice drivers have taken part, making their dream of becoming a race driver a reality. The Caterham Academy continues to build on its successful legacy and is widely regarded as one of Europe's most successful novice driver series.
ACADEMY PACKAGE
An all-inclusive championship for one price, including:
⚠️ ADDICTION WARNING – Only read on if you’re a true petrolhead.
Yes, the car and racing are incredible—but what might be even more addictive is the Caterham Paddock. Unlike some other series, in the Academy you run your car yourself (with support from a dedicated team of Caterham technicians) alongside fellow Academy drivers in a shared paddock space. This unique environment fosters camaraderie and creates lasting friendships, as everyone embarks on this motorsport journey together.
Here’s the catch: You’ll want more of all of it!
GRADUATE TO ROADSPORT
The good news? Caterham has just the solution—Roadsport.
The Academy is really just a taster. After completing the season, the vast majority of entrants upgrade their cars (a minimal process for Roadsport) and sign up for another year—this time with more races, potentially new tracks, and continued support from Caterham and your Academy friends. Despite the limited modifications, the car feels significantly different to drive.
Uniquely, the Academy car is built to evolve. From Academy, you can upgrade to:
You can switch levels or stay within the same one, depending on your goals.
Note: The pictures are of a previous model Academy car; future cars may look slightly different.
