I'm really digging the entry-level low HP versions, and they look the part too - part Mad Max, part Toad of Toad Hall. Getting back to basics with some virtual club racing these days, I find they are very fun to drive on smaller tracks. Oddly though, in the Academy I'm on par with the AI set to 99/66 and I've even won a few races, but I'm really struggling just keeping the Supersport on the track. Still a lot of fun.
Right, I've had quite a few laps in all of them now against the AI, and these are my impressions: Academy Very pleasant to drive, a bit slow off the grid compared to the AI but faster once you get going. Supersport Very difficult to handle with a loads of wheelspin and a strange wobbly oversteer that I've failed to dial out as of yet. Superlight More power, but a lot easier to handle than the Supersport, still a bit sensitive on the throttle and less acceleration than the AI but slightly more top speed. 620R Way too much power for my liking for that sort of car. Not at all suited for club racing on smaller tracks. For casual club racing, the Academy is easily my favourite of them. Tracks used: Cadwell Park, Oulton Park and Brands Hatch.
I love taking the Superlight around the Nordschliefe, it’s got a lovely balance of power and agility. The 620R is a bit too much of a maniac for my skill level, I spend more time fighting it than my opponents. That said, I pinched a setup I found from someone over at Steel’s Discord for Ibarra and after a couple of gentle tweaks for my clumsy hands it was a huge amount of fun on a test day.
Been having some fun mix class on the British tracks races in the Caterham. I thought they were all the same but I think I settled on the SuperSport. Bit different from what I normally drive but super fun once you get the hang of it...
Tracks that are fun with the Caterham Academy no matter the condition or race mode: Brands Hatch (both layouts) Curvelo Short Nürburgring Nordschleife Santa Cruz Velo Cittá Track Day Velopark 2017 VIR North ...and fun in situations such as rain or fairly matched racing: Azure Cadwell Park Donington (both layouts) Imola Interlagos Kansai West Londrina Long Oulton Park International Snetterton 300 I haven't tested the other Caterhams that much, as I prefer the more understeery "balance the throttle to stabilize the car" characteristic of the Academy.
Nurburgring 24 layout was interesting as well in the SuperSport. Not in a perfect "track/car combo" but more in a "Turistenfahrten" kind of way. Only 3secs away from 1st place (who is on a gamepad nonetheless) in TT, which Ill now obviously have to improve on.
That’s why I like it, pretty much a drive in the country ..... but able to rag the nuts (and bolts) off it without worrying about on-coming traffic, cyclists and hedgehogs
Ha! The Academy is probably one of the only cars I'd be able to drive a full lap on Azure without breaking stuff. Funny thing, the few times I've made P1 during a race, the drive bots seem really determined to take their positions back, and I have this horde of angry Caterhams in my mirrors. Quite stressful really.
