Caterham/Lola SP/300.R Is Pretty and Fast, and You Can Test Drive It—Kind Of

Two windshield-averse entities, Caterham and Lola Cars, are rolling out their SP/300.R track car with a very appropriate test-drive scheme: a handful of open track days. Caterham is inviting potential customers to come strap themselves in for a brief track flog, and first in line are those who have already placed their orders. Perhaps the best part (if you happen to find yourself in the U.K. in late August or early September) is that even those who have expressed interest in the car by way of a brief registration on Caterham’s website can land a test drive. Before you think Caterham has completely lost its mind by allowing Joe Schmoe to hop in to the SP/300.R and peel away in a cloud of vaporized rubber, its online registration form inquires about prior Caterham ownership and if you currently hold a racing license—so it’s safe to assume that such a license is required.

And required a racing license should be, for the SP/300.R takes all of the lightweight principles of Caterham design and mixes it with the LMP racer ethos of Lola. The SP/300.R is powered by a 301-hp Rotrex-supercharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder Ford Duratec engine bolted to a six-speed sequential gearbox. The racy engine features a “push-to-pass” power boost feature, giving drivers a brief command of 330 hp. All this power is strapped to very little weight—just 1200 lbs—with an aero package producing up to 992 lbs of downforce at 155 mph. Caterham claims the SP/300.R can catapult from 0-to-60 mph in 2.8 sec and continue on to a top speed of 180 mph; both figures sound realistic. The racer rides on an adjustable, pushrod-actuated coil-spring suspension with adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars, and AP Racing brakes haul the SP/300.R down from track speeds.

The Caterham’s aluminum-honeycomb monocoque and tight cabin are wrapped in lightweight polyurethane body panels. The bodywork is LMP cool, and the adjustable carbon fiber rear wing and low, aerodynamic styling give the racer a Le Mans-ready look. To help ensure other track rats can see you, the car sports front and rear LED running lights and brake lights, and a low-mounted, high-intensity rain light. The LEDs are arranged in strips, with the fronts giving the car an angry furrowed brow while the rears wrap delicately around vents in the car’s twin tail pods. The SP/300.R’s other racing essentials include on-board air jacks, twin roll bars, six-point harnesses, Momo steering wheel with an integrated driver info display, and an FIA-approved fuel cell. Caterham is taking orders for the SP/300.R, and customers can specify right- or left-hand drive for their lightweight track missile. Expect to pay around $95,000 before applicable taxes.