The Caterham CT03[5] is a Formula One racing car designed by Mark Smith and Lewis Butler for the Caterham F1 team. It was used during the 2013 Formula One season, where it was driven by Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde.[3][4] The car was unveiled on the eve of testing for the 2013 season at the Circuito de Jerez.[5]
 Charles Pic driving the CT03 at the Malaysian Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Caterham | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) | Mark Smith (Technical Director) John Iley (Performance Director) Lewis Butler (Chief Designer) Elliot Dason-Barber (Head of Vehicle Dynamics and R&D) Marianne Hinson (Head of Aerodynamics) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | Caterham CT01 | ||||||||||
| Successor | Caterham CT05 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications[1][2] | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon-fibre monocoque | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Twin non-parallel wishbone, pushrod actuated | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Twin non-parallel wishbone, pullrod actuated | ||||||||||
| Length | Over 5,000 mm (197 in) | ||||||||||
| Width | 1,800 mm (71 in) | ||||||||||
| Height | 950 mm (37 in) | ||||||||||
| Wheelbase | Over 3,000 mm (118 in) | ||||||||||
| Engine | Renault RS27-2013 2,400 cc (146 cu in) V8 (90°) naturally aspirated + KERS mid-mounted | ||||||||||
| Electric motor | Red Bull Technology KERS recovered by MGU-K | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Red Bull Technology 7-speed + 1 reverse semi-automatic gearbox | ||||||||||
| Power | 750 hp (559 kW) + 80 hp (60 kW) KERS | ||||||||||
| Weight | 642 kg (1,415 lb) including driver | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Total Excellium 94.25% unleaded gasoline + 5.75% biofuel | ||||||||||
| Lubricants | Total Quartz 9000 | ||||||||||
| Brakes | Hitco carbon brake discs, Carbon Industrie pads and AP Racing 6-piston calipers | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Pirelli P Zero (dry) and Cinturato (wet) BBS wheels | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Caterham F1 Team | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 20.  Charles Pic[3]21.  Giedo van der Garde[4] | ||||||||||
| Debut | 2013 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Design
editThe first chassis was assembled in early October 2012, completed on 30 January and launched on 5 February. The CT03 aroused controversy during pre-season testing. Lotus technical director James Allison observed details of the car's exhaust outlet that he believed contravened Article 5.8.4 of the technical regulations,[6] that prohibits the use of bodywork within a defined area with respect to the exhaust outlet.[7] The FIA later deemed this system to be illegal.[8] After driving the car during FP1 at Bahrain, Heikki Kovalainen stated the car was basically the previous year's car with nothing done to it.
After the initial three races of the season the CT03 received a major upgrade to improve handling and performance. The most noticeable part of this was the introduction of a vanity panel over the stepped-nose. Later in the season the vanity panel was removed again and the car was raced for the rest of the season without it.
Livery
editCaterham F1 went into the 2013 season with livery changes. The white-yellow-white stripe in the front section was replaced by solid green with white accent as Caterham F1's main colour while the white-yellow stripe on the rear section was also retained. The green became brighter unlike previous seasons when dark green was the team's main colour.
Season summary
edit
Caterham were unable to score any points in 2013 and finished the season in 11th in the Constructors' Championship. The team achieved their highest finishing positions with 14th-places in Malaysia, the Hungarian Grand Prix, and the Korean Grand Prix.
Complete Formula One results
edit(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | Grands Prix | Points | WCC | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | MAL | CHN | BHR | ESP | MON | CAN | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | SIN | KOR | JPN | IND | ABU | USA | BRA | |||||||
| 2013 | Caterham F1 Team | Renault RS27-2013 | P | Charles Pic | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | Ret | 18 | 15 | 17 | 15 | Ret | 17 | 19 | 14 | 18 | Ret | 19 | 20 | Ret | 0 | 11th |
| Giedo van der Garde | 18 | 15 | 18 | 21 | Ret | 15 | Ret | 18 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 15 | Ret | Ret | 18 | 19 | 18 | ||||||
References
edit- ^ "Caterham F1 Team - The Car". Caterhamf1.com. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
- ^ "Caterham CT03 Renault". f1technical.net. F1Technical.net. 2013.
- ^ a b "Marussia driver Charles Pic switches to Caterham for 2013". BBC Sport. BBC Sport. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ a b "Van der Garde to race for Caterham". GPUpdate.net. GPUpdate. 1 February 2013. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
- ^ a b Collantine, Keith (21 January 2013). "Caterham CT03 to debut at start of Jerez test". F1 Fanatic. Keith Collantine. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
- ^ Noble, Jonathan (6 February 2013). "Caterham shrugs off Lotus's suggestion of illegal exhaust". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ^ "Formula 1 Technical Regulations — Engines and KERS". formula1.com. Formula One Administration. Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ^ Benson, Andrew (19 February 2013). "Williams and Caterham exhaust designs deemed 'illegal'". BBC F1. BBC. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
External links
edit