Caparo T1

[Ultrasound]

I would of thought that puts us in GP2 car territory Jon.  Aren't they replacing the GP2 chassis for next year with an updated chassis? You'd still have the problem that the car is far to fast for your own skills (I mean 'one's own skills', if you know what I mean, not you skill Jon) and a wee bit quick for the other cars on a track day. Would be some fun though. Imagine the reaction and you load that off the back of the trailer. 

[Alec]

I'm sure that someone told me that trackdays don't allow open-wheelers.

So how many tracks running trackdays do allow open-wheelers?

The only one I know of at the moment is Aintree, which runs in sessions, and that's the group I'm in with the Atom.

[Atom120]

[quote="jon b"]
That prodrive is a piece of shite, if it ever happens - whos going to buy such an ugly mother car - maybe the same people that bought that MG monster/ dog?
[/quote]

People actually bought that MG monster-dog?

Oh, hang on, I see your point... 

[Atom120]

[quote="jon b"]
Those are mega performance figures - but would you just be better off buying a reliable F3 or similar for track use?
[/quote]

When you think how much development has gone into F3 cars, compared to how little development has gone into the T1, it makes the F3 option look even better.

If you look at the lap times of an F3 car, they really really are phenomenal bits of kit. I guess you could find a way of bolting mudguards on an old F3 car for trackdays - but then you'd never, ever get a clean lap without traffic. If the T1 ever becomes as good as they're promising, I really can't when or where you'd ever be able to use it to its full potential. Apart from in the pub!!

[jon b]

Yes Andy - the F3 really does seem a very interesting option - as you say - getting some mudguards on it wouldn't be a problem.  One things for sure- if you go on the RMA days around Europe and UK - no problem at all running an F3/F2 or even a fully blown F1 car at full chat ffs    .  With their Paddock club membership which works out at around £400/£500 per event - there are No Overtaking Rules because all of the drivers are well known to Graham and are trusted.  Quality of driving is superb

May have said this before but when i was last with the RMA at Spa - there i was flat out down the kemmel straight in the Rad at maybe 145ish - when Michael Schumachers Benneton F1 car went past me at 200mph+.  It totally freaked me out, jumped out of my skin but i  also nearly then went off the road laughing - too much fun

I would absolutely love to drive an F3 car- as you say it is properly sorted for track days without all the bull that the T1 has i.e passenger, so called road use blah, blah, blah

Major negatives for the T1 = the cool looking cockpit cover cannot be used - its purely a showcase - but does not work at speed and gets way too hot for hot weather - so evern the Arabs won't be able to use it.  Also, you can't exactly just lift it off as you pull up outside your hotel

The front lip simply cannot be used on the road - ok the chassis can be raised slightly but it is a proper carbon chin spoiler which = disaster on the road

I suspect the engine will require rebuilds every 40+ hours of use when only used on track plus the gearbox will need serious maintenance  ..... blah, blah blah

[ross]

Yeah, have to agree.  The Caparo just highlights again, how cool a product the Atom is.  Awesome trackday car but still fun and completely useable on the road.

[jon b]

Don't see the T1 going around Brands quicker than this - its a 2001 car - must be all of £15k to buy now - bargain!

[jon b]

Going OT 

Nige - was a bit of a legend -love some of the clips here - the organised pit stop  the perfectly executed 360 spin    what a man 

[benyeats]

[quote="jon b"]
Going OT 

Nige - was a bit of a legend -love some of the clips here - the organised pit stop  the perfectly executed 360 spin    what a man 



[/quote]

Great video, great driver.

Can remember most of those races.  Shame it did not continue to show his final win in F1 (Australia 1994)

Ben

[bolus]

oops
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/09/jaso ... t-150-mph/

[jon b]

[quote="bolus"]
oops
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/09/jaso ... t-150-mph/

[/quote]

That T1 is clearly over ambitious, unfinished and at this stage under engineered.

Press launch the suspension snaps at high speed - then this  ..............




Press Information
For immediate publication: 9th October 2007
Jason Plato hurt in TV filming accident
Jason Plato has been hurt in an incident during filming for the Channel 5 Fifth Gear programme.
SEAT Sport UKâ??s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship driver was testing a road-going Caparo T1 supercar at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground near Lutterworth in Leicestershire when it burst into flames at an estimated 150mph. The car has a maximum top speed of 200mph.

Jason was taken by private car to the nearest accident and emergency facility at the Market Harborough and District Hospital. After initial treatment he was transferred by ambulance to Kettering General Hospital. Following further treatment there, he was transferred by ambulance to the Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he received treatment in the specialist burns unit. He was released later the same evening and spent the night resting at home in Oxfordshire, before seeing a burns specialist again this morning.

Jason has received burns to both hands (the right hand being more badly injured), his face and the back of the neck. He has vowed to race at this weekendâ??s final BTCC race meeting at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire on Sunday 14th October, which is also his 40th birthday. Jason, who races a SEAT Leon, goes into the final three races of the season leading the BTCC Driversâ?? category, nine points ahead of Italyâ??s Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall).

Jason said: â??We were testing the Caparo T1 for Fifth Gear, and we took it to Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, a private testing facility, which is common practice. There was a slight loss of power, I looked in the mirror and saw some smoke, there was a slight smell of oil and then suddenly there was this intense heat. The car spontaneously erupted into a ball of flame and I was sat in the middle of a fireball. I hit the brakes, brought the car to a stop as quickly as I could and jumped out.

â??We found the nearest hospital on our sat nav and Phil Bennett [former BTCC racing driver who was at the test] took me to the local A&E. I would very much like to thank Phil, all the staff at Market Harborough and District Hospital, Kettering General Hospital and Stoke Mandeville Hospital for all the excellent care and treatment they so quickly administered.

â??The back of my neck is burnt and so are my face and hands. I obviously couldnâ??t take my hands off the steering wheel whilst braking and my right hand is more badly burnt than my left. Iâ??ll have to dig deep, but Iâ??m still looking forward to the BTCC finale this weekend. Itâ??s been a hard-fought season and Iâ??ve led the Driversâ?? Championship almost unbroken since winning the opening round, so this isnâ??t going to stop me winning the title on Sunday.â?�

[ross]

Oh dear - not the kind of marketing Caparo would have been after I guess.

[jon b]

[quote="Ross McWilliam"]
Oh dear - not the kind of marketing Caparo would have been after I guess.
[/quote]

I accept - "things happen" BUT i honestly think their press launch and this subsequent press test are within their development area of engineering

[benyeats]

As us engineers say they have really dropped a b*llock here.

Mind you perhaps it was the fith gear arsonists that set fire to the car

Ben

[DFext37 Fielding]

[quote="jon b"]
[quote="bolus"]
oops
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/09/jaso ... t-150-mph/

[/quote]

That T1 is clearly over ambitious, unfinished and at this stage under engineered.

Press launch the suspension snaps at high speed - then this  ..............




Press Information
For immediate publication: 9th October 2007
Jason Plato hurt in TV filming accident
Jason Plato has been hurt in an incident during filming for the Channel 5 Fifth Gear programme.
SEAT Sport UKâ??s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship driver was testing a road-going Caparo T1 supercar at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground near Lutterworth in Leicestershire when it burst into flames at an estimated 150mph. The car has a maximum top speed of 200mph.

Jason was taken by private car to the nearest accident and emergency facility at the Market Harborough and District Hospital. After initial treatment he was transferred by ambulance to Kettering General Hospital. Following further treatment there, he was transferred by ambulance to the Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he received treatment in the specialist burns unit. He was released later the same evening and spent the night resting at home in Oxfordshire, before seeing a burns specialist again this morning.

Jason has received burns to both hands (the right hand being more badly injured), his face and the back of the neck. He has vowed to race at this weekendâ??s final BTCC race meeting at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire on Sunday 14th October, which is also his 40th birthday. Jason, who races a SEAT Leon, goes into the final three races of the season leading the BTCC Driversâ?? category, nine points ahead of Italyâ??s Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall).

Jason said: â??We were testing the Caparo T1 for Fifth Gear, and we took it to Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, a private testing facility, which is common practice. There was a slight loss of power, I looked in the mirror and saw some smoke, there was a slight smell of oil and then suddenly there was this intense heat. The car spontaneously erupted into a ball of flame and I was sat in the middle of a fireball. I hit the brakes, brought the car to a stop as quickly as I could and jumped out.

â??We found the nearest hospital on our sat nav and Phil Bennett [former BTCC racing driver who was at the test] took me to the local A&E. I would very much like to thank Phil, all the staff at Market Harborough and District Hospital, Kettering General Hospital and Stoke Mandeville Hospital for all the excellent care and treatment they so quickly administered.

â??The back of my neck is burnt and so are my face and hands. I obviously couldnâ??t take my hands off the steering wheel whilst braking and my right hand is more badly burnt than my left. Iâ??ll have to dig deep, but Iâ??m still looking forward to the BTCC finale this weekend. Itâ??s been a hard-fought season and Iâ??ve led the Driversâ?? Championship almost unbroken since winning the opening round, so this isnâ??t going to stop me winning the title on Sunday.â?�


[/quote]

Just Jason Pluto's luck, John Watson always called him 'Racing' Jason Plato...

Is Phil Bennet working with Pluto?, why was Bennet there?