Caterham takes action to boost 2005 championships

It has yet to be finalised if the series will stay on the Stephane Ratel Organisation-run F3/GT package, although talks are ongoing with Ratel and Jonathan Palmer's T1 package. Caterham motorsport consultant Magnus Laird said: "This move anticipates any potential action by the MSA and the BRSCC to address the issue of poor grids. Hopefully, it should also encourage Roadsports A runners to upgrade to R400s. The Roadsport A model is no longer available as a production model so it makes sense to put it together with another category. They have successfully raced together in the Eurocup and that has not proved to be a problem."

Caterham has also moved to cut costs, with an all-new bespoke Avon- treaded tyre to be introduced next season to be used by both the R400 and Roadsports A runners. The move is expected to cut around £5000 from the required annual budget.

Stephen Worley, whose Hyperion Motorsport team has run cars in both R400s and Roadsports A, as well as the Eurocup this season, said: "This year has been quite a challenge for teams who want to run in both. They've had to attend too many championships. It makes sense from an operational and a camaraderie standpoint to bring the cars together."

Caterham also plan to run the Inter category, a class for higher-specification Roadsport B cars, as a standalone championship for 2005. The remainder of the companies categories - Roadsports B, Graduates and the thriving starter-level Caterham Academy - will remain in place next season alongside the Eurocup and an an all-new two-driver enduro series.