Caparo T1
Encyclopedia
The Caparo T1 is a British
mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-seat automobile
built by Caparo Vehicle Technologies
, founded by design director Ben Scott-Geddes and engineering director Graham Halstead, engineers formerly involved in the development of the McLaren F1
. The T1 was inspired by Formula One
design, and intended as a relatively affordable street legal race car. The T1 was scheduled for production in mid-2007 for a price of GB£
235,000 (approx. US$
480,000 or €
328,000, c.2007), with approximately 25 cars per year built.
of 2900 millimetres (114.2 in). It has a fuel tank capacity of 70 litre.
aerodynamic
low drag
body design, composed of individual sections, with an adjustable twin element front wing
, single element rear wing, and fowler flaps
, and a ground effect
diffuser
, allowing it to create 875 kilograms (1,929 lb) of downforce at 240 kilometres per hour (149.1 mph). The wings are replaceable with road and track variations.
, and is designed with a central safety cell made of a high-strength steel roll hoop
with a fire system. The dashboard is multi-function with race data logging and speed sensors for traction control
and launch control
.
of the T1 is composed of a carbon fibre and aluminium
honeycomb
monocoque
with a front composite crash structure and a rear tubular space frame
construction. The suspension
is of a double wishbone
design with tunable anti-roll bars
, front and rear, and five-way adjustable race dampers
. The braking system
is composed of 355 millimetres (14 in) steel brake discs
, with six-piston and four-piston callipers front and rear, respectively. The brake bias
pedal box is fully adjustable and brake pads are available in various compounds. The wheels are all-aluminum 10 by and 11 by front and rear, respectively, with Pirelli
P Zero Corsa tyres. Magnesium
10 by and 11 by wheels front and rear, respectively, with Pirelli slick
and wet
track tyres are available as optional equipment.
V8 engine
with cylinder banks mounted at 90° and lubricated via a dry sump oil system
. The engine has gone through several designs, previously including a smaller 2.4-litre supercharged
unit. The production design generates a maximum power
of 575 hp at 10,500 revolutions per minute
and a maximum torque
of 310 lbft at 9,000 revolutions per minute, giving the car a power-to-weight ratio
of 1,223 horsepower per tonne (912.8 kW/t). In addition, the engine has been reported to successfully reach 700 hp on methanol
fuel. The engine is controlled via a fully tunable Pectel SQ6 engine control unit
and the throttle is controlled via a throttle-by-wire
system.
The T1's gearbox
is a 6-speed sequential
made of a magnesium and carbon construction that has a variety of available gear ratio
s and utilizes a pneumatic actuator to shift, able to upshift in 60 milliseconds and downshift in 30 milliseconds. Furthermore, the drivetrain incorporates a limited slip differential
and equal length hollow tripod driveshaft
s.
setup. From a standing start, it has an estimated 0–100 km/h (0–62.1 mph) time under 2.5 seconds and onto 160 kilometres per hour (99.4 mph) in 4.9 seconds, depending on tyre
setup. It is also capable of an estimated lateral acceleration of up to 3 g
and braking deceleration of 3 g, depending on tyre setup.
, joined by Murray Walker
, at the Top Marques auto show in Monaco on April 20, 2006. The show car unveiled was a prototype, painted orange as historic McLaren
cars were due to the nature of the T1's designers being ex-McLaren engineers. Another test vehicle was reported to have been under construction at the time.
During the MPH
'07 auto show, on October 30 through November 2 and later November 13 through November 16, 2007, Caparo, in conjunction with the London Metropolitan Police
, unveiled a prototype police vehicle variant of the T1 named the Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV). However, Top Gear and Edmunds reported that the car would not be put into production.
was injured in a prototype T1 in October 2007 at the Bruntingthorpe
proving ground when it caught fire at an estimated 250 kilometres per hour (155.3 mph). The T1 was being tested during filming for Five's Fifth Gear
. Plato described what happened as:
In the associated episode of Fifth Gear, first broadcast October 15, 2007, presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson
suggested the fire was caused by a "faulty oil sealing component," which now identified, will be fully rectified by Caparo.
While being tested for competing British television programme Top Gear
, first broadcast on November 11, 2007, a floor panel came loose from the test vehicle as it was being driven at speed by Jeremy Clarkson
, after he had already made a play of being scared about driving the car because of Plato's experience. Afterwards, there was a problem with the car's petrol injection system. In the same review, Clarkson mentioned two more incidents, one at the press launch, when "some aspect of the front suspension came adrift" while a Dutch journalist was driving, causing him to veer off road, and one at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
when the throttle stuck open.
Power Board leader's time of 1:17.6, then held by the Koenigsegg CCX
, with a time of 1:10.6. Immediately after having declared the time and placed it on the Power Board, presenter Jeremy Clarkson
removed the record because it did not meet the show's rule that the car must be able to go over a speed bump
. However, Ben Scott-Geddes of Caparo
has stated that, "the model we supplied to Top Gear was one of our final engineering vehicles without adjustable ride height and electronic active driver control systems which are standard on our production models. When drivers select the 'road' setting, the car is more tractable in slower speed conditions and the ride height is fully adjustable to bring the car up to 90 mm clearance, making it more than capable of driving over speed bumps."
When driving the Caparo, Clarkson had stated that limited aerodynamic downforce is created at slow speeds. As a result, the car had low levels of lateral traction while cornering if it was not being driven rapidly. Aerodynamically, this vehicle is designed such that air passing over the body at high rates of speed "pushes" the vehicle against the road (allowing for higher cornering speeds). He criticized the handling characteristics, proposing that the vehicle was difficult to control around corners at low speeds, and that on a wet or cold day (these factors negatively affect grip) there were problems even at higher speeds.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-seat automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
built by Caparo Vehicle Technologies
Caparo Vehicle Technologies
Caparo Vehicle Technologies , formerly known as Freestream, is a British company that provides advanced technology development, materials engineering, and design services to automotive, motorsport, and aerospace markets...
, founded by design director Ben Scott-Geddes and engineering director Graham Halstead, engineers formerly involved in the development of the McLaren F1
McLaren F1
The McLaren F1 is a supercar designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. Originally a concept conceived by Gordon Murray, he convinced Ron Dennis to back the project and engaged Peter Stevens to design the exterior of the car...
. The T1 was inspired by Formula One
Formula One car
A modern Formula One car is a single-seat, open cockpit, open wheel racing car with substantial front and rear wings, and an engine positioned behind the driver. The regulations governing the cars are unique to the championship...
design, and intended as a relatively affordable street legal race car. The T1 was scheduled for production in mid-2007 for a price of GB£
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
235,000 (approx. US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
480,000 or €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
328,000, c.2007), with approximately 25 cars per year built.
Overview
The T1 has a dry weight of 470 kilograms (1,036.2 lb), an overall length of 4066 millimetres (160.1 in), an overall width of 1990 millimetres (78.3 in), an overall height of 1076 millimetres (42.4 in), and a wheelbaseWheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
of 2900 millimetres (114.2 in). It has a fuel tank capacity of 70 litre.
Exterior
The exterior of the T1 closely resembles that of a racing prototype or Formula One racing car. It features a carbon fibreCarbon fiber
Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
aerodynamic
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
low drag
Drag (physics)
In fluid dynamics, drag refers to forces which act on a solid object in the direction of the relative fluid flow velocity...
body design, composed of individual sections, with an adjustable twin element front wing
Spoiler (automotive)
A spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose intended design function is to 'spoil' unfavorable air movement across a body of a vehicle in motion. Spoilers on the front of a vehicle are often called air dams, because in addition to directing air flow they also reduce the amount of air...
, single element rear wing, and fowler flaps
Flap (aircraft)
Flaps are normally hinged surfaces mounted on the trailing edges of the wings of a fixed-wing aircraft to reduce the speed an aircraft can be safely flown at and to increase the angle of descent for landing without increasing air speed. They shorten takeoff and landing distances as well as...
, and a ground effect
Ground effect in cars
Ground effect is term applied to a series of aerodynamic effects used in car design, which has been exploited to create downforce, particularly in racing cars. This has been the successor to the earlier dominant aerodynamic theory of streamlining...
diffuser
Diffuser (automotive)
A diffuser, in an automotive context, is a shaped section of the car underbody which improves the car's aerodynamic properties by enhancing the transition between the high-velocity airflow underneath the car and the much slower freestream airflow of the ambient atmosphere...
, allowing it to create 875 kilograms (1,929 lb) of downforce at 240 kilometres per hour (149.1 mph). The wings are replaceable with road and track variations.
Interior
The interior of the T1 is a two-seat configuration, lacking any amenities and luxuries to reduce excess weight. The passenger's seat is set back from the driver's seat slightly, allowing the seats to be placed closer together, thereby reducing the overall width of the T1. Offered are a head protection system, six-point harnesses for the driver and passenger, compatible with a HANS deviceHANS device
The HANS device is a safety item compulsory in many car racing sports...
, and is designed with a central safety cell made of a high-strength steel roll hoop
Roll cage
A roll cage is a specially constructed frame built in the cab of a vehicle to protect its occupants from being injured in an accident, particularly in the event of a roll-over. Roll cages are used in nearly all purpose-built racecars, and in most cars modified for racing...
with a fire system. The dashboard is multi-function with race data logging and speed sensors for traction control
Traction control system
A traction control system , also known as anti-slip regulation , is typically a secondary function of the anti-lock braking system on production motor vehicles, designed to prevent loss of traction of driven road wheels...
and launch control
Launch control (automotive)
Launch control typically refers to an electronic aid which is used to assist the drivers of various motorsports at the start of a race.Launch control also refers to an electronic setting on many modern sporting saloons and coupes which help the driver accelerate from a standing start, to gain the...
.
Chassis
The chassisChassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
of the T1 is composed of a carbon fibre and aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
honeycomb
Honeycomb (geometry)
In geometry, a honeycomb is a space filling or close packing of polyhedral or higher-dimensional cells, so that there are no gaps. It is an example of the more general mathematical tiling or tessellation in any number of dimensions....
monocoque
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
with a front composite crash structure and a rear tubular space frame
Space frame
A space frame or space structure is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space frames can be used to span large areas with few interior supports...
construction. The suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
is of a double wishbone
Double wishbone suspension
In automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...
design with tunable anti-roll bars
Sway bar
A sway bar or anti-roll bar or stabilizer bar is a part of an automobile suspension that helps reduce the roll of a vehicle that is induced by cornering or road irregularities. It connects opposite wheels together through short lever arms linked by a torsion spring...
, front and rear, and five-way adjustable race dampers
Shock absorber
A shock absorber is a mechanical device designed to smooth out or damp shock impulse, and dissipate kinetic energy. It is a type of dashpot.-Nomenclature:...
. The braking system
Vehicle brake
A vehicle brake is a brake used to slow down a vehicle by converting its kinetic energy into heat. The basic hydraulic system, most commonly used, usually has six main stages...
is composed of 355 millimetres (14 in) steel brake discs
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
, with six-piston and four-piston callipers front and rear, respectively. The brake bias
Electronic brakeforce distribution
Electronic brakeforce distribution ', Electronic brakeforce limitation ' is an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount of force applied to each of a vehicle's brakes, based on road conditions, speed, loading, etc...
pedal box is fully adjustable and brake pads are available in various compounds. The wheels are all-aluminum 10 by and 11 by front and rear, respectively, with Pirelli
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
P Zero Corsa tyres. Magnesium
Magnesium
Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and ninth in the known universe as a whole...
10 by and 11 by wheels front and rear, respectively, with Pirelli slick
Slick tire
A slick tyre is a type of tyre that has no tread pattern, used mostly in auto racing. The first production "slick tyre" was developed by a company called M&H Tires in the early 1950s for use in drag racing...
and wet
Rain tyre
Rain tyres or Wet tyres are special tyres used in motorsport in wet weather as opposed to a slick tyre used in dry conditions. They are very similar in many ways to the tyres found on normal road cars.- Structure :...
track tyres are available as optional equipment.
Powertrain
The T1 sports a 116 kilograms (255.7 lb), 32-valve, 3496 cubic centimetres (3.5 l), all-aluminium, naturally aspirated, MenardTeam Menard
Team Menard was an auto racing team in the Indianapolis 500 and Indy Racing League owned by John Menard. From 1991 to 1996 they modified their own Buick V6 engines for racing. This combination won pole for the 500 with Scott Brayton in 1995 and 1996; Tony Stewart used this combination for the first...
V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
with cylinder banks mounted at 90° and lubricated via a dry sump oil system
Dry sump
A dry sump is a lubricating motor oil management method for four-stroke and large two-stroke piston internal combustion engines that uses external pumps and a secondary external reservoir for oil, as compared to a conventional wet sump system....
. The engine has gone through several designs, previously including a smaller 2.4-litre supercharged
Supercharger
A supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
unit. The production design generates a maximum power
Motive power
In thermodynamics, motive power is an agency, as water or steam, used to impart motion. Generally, motive power is defined as a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover. The term may also define something, as a locomotive or a...
of 575 hp at 10,500 revolutions per minute
Revolutions per minute
Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis...
and a maximum torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
of 310 lbft at 9,000 revolutions per minute, giving the car a power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of actual performance of any engine or power sources...
of 1,223 horsepower per tonne (912.8 kW/t). In addition, the engine has been reported to successfully reach 700 hp on methanol
Methanol
Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, is a chemical with the formula CH3OH . It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive odor very similar to, but slightly sweeter than, ethanol...
fuel. The engine is controlled via a fully tunable Pectel SQ6 engine control unit
Engine control unit
An engine control unit is a type of electronic control unit that determines the amount of fuel, ignition timing and other parameters an internal combustion engine needs to keep running...
and the throttle is controlled via a throttle-by-wire
Electronic throttle control
Electronic throttle control is an automobile technology which severs the mechanical link between the accelerator pedal and the throttle. Most automobiles already use a throttle position sensor to provide input to traction control, antilock brakes, fuel injection, and other systems, but use a...
system.
The T1's gearbox
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
is a 6-speed sequential
Semi-automatic transmission
A semi-automatic transmission is an automobile transmission that does not change gears automatically, but rather facilitates manual gear changes by dispensing with the need to press...
made of a magnesium and carbon construction that has a variety of available gear ratio
Gear ratio
The gear ratio of a gear train is the ratio of the angular velocity of the input gear to the angular velocity of the output gear, also known as the speed ratio of the gear train. The gear ratio can be computed directly from the numbers of teeth of the various gears that engage to form the gear...
s and utilizes a pneumatic actuator to shift, able to upshift in 60 milliseconds and downshift in 30 milliseconds. Furthermore, the drivetrain incorporates a limited slip differential
Limited slip differential
A limited slip differential is a type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in angular velocity of the output shafts, but imposes a mechanical bound on the disparity...
and equal length hollow tripod driveshaft
Driveshaft
A drive shaft, driveshaft, driving shaft, propeller shaft, or Cardan shaft is a mechanical component for transmitting torque and rotation, usually used to connect other components of a drive train that cannot be connected directly because of distance or the need to allow for relative movement...
s.
Performance
The T1 has an estimated maximum speed of 205 miles per hour (329.9 km/h) on a low downforceDownforce
Downforce is a downwards thrust created by the aerodynamic characteristics of a car. The purpose of downforce is to allow a car to travel faster through a corner by increasing the vertical force on the tires, thus creating more grip....
setup. From a standing start, it has an estimated 0–100 km/h (0–62.1 mph) time under 2.5 seconds and onto 160 kilometres per hour (99.4 mph) in 4.9 seconds, depending on tyre
Tire
A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
setup. It is also capable of an estimated lateral acceleration of up to 3 g
G-force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall. This acceleration experienced by an object is due to the vector sum of non-gravitational forces acting on an object free to move. The accelerations that are not produced by gravity are termed proper accelerations, and...
and braking deceleration of 3 g, depending on tyre setup.
Unveiling
The T1 was officially unveiled by Albert II, Prince of MonacoAlbert II, Prince of Monaco
Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the ruler of the Principality of Monaco. He is the son of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly...
, joined by Murray Walker
Murray Walker
Graeme Murray Walker, OBE is a former Formula One motorsport commentator...
, at the Top Marques auto show in Monaco on April 20, 2006. The show car unveiled was a prototype, painted orange as historic McLaren
McLaren Automotive
McLaren Automotive, commonly referred to as McLaren, is a British automotive manufacturer of high-performance vehicles. The company was established as McLaren Cars in 1989 as a producer of road cars based on Formula One technology...
cars were due to the nature of the T1's designers being ex-McLaren engineers. Another test vehicle was reported to have been under construction at the time.
During the MPH
MPH Show
The MPH Show is a supercar motor show. It is held every year at both London Earls Court and Birmingham NEC. From 2011 the London location has changed to ExCeL London. The show takes up either one or two halls at both venues...
'07 auto show, on October 30 through November 2 and later November 13 through November 16, 2007, Caparo, in conjunction with the London Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
, unveiled a prototype police vehicle variant of the T1 named the Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV). However, Top Gear and Edmunds reported that the car would not be put into production.
Incidents
Jason PlatoJason Plato
Timothy Jason Plato is a British racing car driver currently competing in the BTCC for Silverline Chevrolet. He is a two time BTCC champion having previously won the series in 2001 when driving for Vauxhall and 2010 for Silverline Chevrolet. He has finished in the top 3 in the championship 8 times...
was injured in a prototype T1 in October 2007 at the Bruntingthorpe
Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome
Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome and Proving Ground is a privately owned airport in Leicestershire near the village of Bruntingthorpe. It was opened as RAF Bruntingthorpe in 1942.- United States Air Force use:...
proving ground when it caught fire at an estimated 250 kilometres per hour (155.3 mph). The T1 was being tested during filming for Five's Fifth Gear
Fifth Gear
Fifth Gear is a motoring television magazine show from the United Kingdom. Originally shown on Channel 5, the show is currently presented by Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jason Plato, Jonny Smith and Ben Collins...
. Plato described what happened as:
In the associated episode of Fifth Gear, first broadcast October 15, 2007, presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson
Vicki Butler-Henderson
Victoria "Vicki" Butler-Henderson is a racing driver and television presenter.-Biography:Butler-Henderson was born into a racing family. Her grandfather used to race a Frazer Nash at Brooklands, her father was in the British karting team and her brother Charlie is a racing driver. She has an older...
suggested the fire was caused by a "faulty oil sealing component," which now identified, will be fully rectified by Caparo.
While being tested for competing British television programme Top Gear
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
, first broadcast on November 11, 2007, a floor panel came loose from the test vehicle as it was being driven at speed by Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
, after he had already made a play of being scared about driving the car because of Plato's experience. Afterwards, there was a problem with the car's petrol injection system. In the same review, Clarkson mentioned two more incidents, one at the press launch, when "some aspect of the front suspension came adrift" while a Dutch journalist was driving, causing him to veer off road, and one at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Goodwood Festival of Speed, commonly abbreviated as FoS and referred within the United Kingdom as simply the Festival of Speed, is an annual hill climb featuring historic motor racing vehicles that is held in the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England.Typically held in late June or...
when the throttle stuck open.
Reviews
On November 11, 2007, the T1 surpassed the Top GearTop Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
Power Board leader's time of 1:17.6, then held by the Koenigsegg CCX
Koenigsegg CCX
The Koenigsegg CCX is a mid-engined roadster from Swedish car manufacturer Koenigsegg. The CCX has been engineered to comply with the U.S. regulation and market demands and is a newer design that replaced the Koenigsegg CCR....
, with a time of 1:10.6. Immediately after having declared the time and placed it on the Power Board, presenter Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
removed the record because it did not meet the show's rule that the car must be able to go over a speed bump
Speed bump
A speed bump is a speed-reducing feature of road design to slow traffic or reduce through traffic, via...
. However, Ben Scott-Geddes of Caparo
Caparo Vehicle Technologies
Caparo Vehicle Technologies , formerly known as Freestream, is a British company that provides advanced technology development, materials engineering, and design services to automotive, motorsport, and aerospace markets...
has stated that, "the model we supplied to Top Gear was one of our final engineering vehicles without adjustable ride height and electronic active driver control systems which are standard on our production models. When drivers select the 'road' setting, the car is more tractable in slower speed conditions and the ride height is fully adjustable to bring the car up to 90 mm clearance, making it more than capable of driving over speed bumps."
When driving the Caparo, Clarkson had stated that limited aerodynamic downforce is created at slow speeds. As a result, the car had low levels of lateral traction while cornering if it was not being driven rapidly. Aerodynamically, this vehicle is designed such that air passing over the body at high rates of speed "pushes" the vehicle against the road (allowing for higher cornering speeds). He criticized the handling characteristics, proposing that the vehicle was difficult to control around corners at low speeds, and that on a wet or cold day (these factors negatively affect grip) there were problems even at higher speeds.
External links
- Caparo T1 official web site (Adobe Flash PlayerAdobe Flash PlayerThe Adobe Flash Player is software for viewing multimedia, Rich Internet Applications and streaming video and audio, on a computer web browser or on supported mobile devices. Flash Player runs SWF files that can be created by the Adobe Flash authoring tool, by Adobe Flex or by a number of other...
required).