While iRacing provides virtual racers with some of the most demanding race cars on Planet Earth, such as GTP prototypes and even Formula 1 cars, arguably the most popular metal pumps out considerably less power. Machines like the Formula Vee single-seater, or the Mazda MX-5, provide amazing racing because they lack outright grunt.
This leads to a stronger slipstream effect, which increases overtaking as well as allowing slower drivers to keep up with the lead pack. Series that use such cars are immensely popular within the title, since thrilling battles don’t just occur for a lap or two, but usually the entire contest, and they are not limited to B or A license drivers.
Now, you’ll have another such vehicle to conquer. One of the most revered single-make race cars in the world is here, so get ready to practice your racecraft. Caterham has arrived in iRacing.
Introduction To The Caterham Academy And 420R
The story of the Caterham Academy and 420R machines dates back to 1957, when Lotus developed a small two-seater sports car called the Seven. Lacking a roof, and pretty much anything else that makes a vehicle comfortable, the Seven was built to be as light and responsive as possible. Caterham entered the picture in 1973, when it managed to acquire the production rights to the now-defunct vehicle from Lotus.
After 13 years producing road-going versions of the car, Caterham launched a United Kingdom-based racing series called Super 7. The single-make series saw a collection of identical cars compete for the outright championship in the hands of their owners, or upcoming professional racing drivers.
The series proved a huge success, and has become one of the most influential single-make fixtures on the nation’s racing calendar. In 2026, the two main series running Caterhams are known as Academy and Seven Championship UK. While the latter is the modern evolution of the original Super 7 series, the former was created in 1995 as a way for inexperienced drivers to get used to a lower-powered version of the car.
Both races run in a sprint format, which includes a qualifying session, and shorter race sessions of between 15 and 30 minutes. Essentially, while the Academy is the lowest entry point into Caterham racing, the 420R is the pinnacle.
The beauty of the Caterham fixtures is how affordable they are. While the Academy package starts from £44,995, or just over $60,000, for the car, a couple of event entries, test days, and more, the 420R package starts from around $73k. They’re a lot cheaper than that in iRacing though, with both cars being included as part of one package, which will set you back $11.95.
iRacing Setups For TheCaterham
Coach Dave Academy ensured it included the Caterham as part of its setup package heading into Season 4 2026. This means you get Fixed Data Packs for its D license Academy version and a full Pro Setups Package for its 420R C license version. All with telemetry data, reference laps, Video Analysis, and AI Coaching in Delta.
Gain seconds in lap time with our incredible iRacing setups that include professionally developed setups and referance laps for every car available in the official weekly racing series that you can find on iRacing.
The Basic Car Setup
Just like the first Seven from the late 1950s, Caterham has made sure to retain its original philosophy to this day. Neither the Academy nor the 420R feature any form of complicated aerodynamic package, which helps keep costs down and the racing close, while the power they produce has been kept low to maintain ultra-close racing.
It’s essentially a standard road-going Seven that features uprated engine and suspension configurations, as well as upgrades like a race-spec rollcage and six-point harness, which allow it to compete out on track. The beauty of the design is that those who compete in the series can drive their car from their home to whichever track they’re competing at on any given weekend, enjoy two days of racing, and then simply drive home again.
Starting With Academy
It’s essentially a standard road-going Seven that features uprated engine and suspension configurations, as well as upgrades like a race-spec rollcage and six-point harness, which allow it to compete out on track. The beauty of the design is that those who compete in the series can drive their car from their home to whichever track they’re competing at on any given weekend, enjoy two days of racing, and then simply drive home again.
It has the least power of the two new-to-iRacing vehicles, with its Caterham-tuned 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine sending just 128 horsepower to the rear wheels. It uses a road-spec six-speed manual gearbox, as well as road-legal treaded tyres. The suspension may be designed to work well on the road, but it offers full adjustability so that you can tune it for whatever road or track you’re looking to take on.
Then the 420R
This is a non-road-legal racer that comes with a much more powerful naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Ford Duratec I4 powerplant, which has been tuned by Caterham to kick out 210 hp. In a car that weighs just 1,400 pounds, including the driver, that’s a huge relative increase. In fact, it has a higher power-to-weight ratio than a Nissan R35 GT-R.
It’s not just the engine that’s more serious. Since it’s a track-only weapon, the 420R uses a six-speed semi-automatic sequential transmission, as well as grippier slick racing tyres and an uprated track-focused suspension configuration. Beyond that, the 420R also gets a more powerful braking setup, as well as a more responsive racing-designed steering rack.
There are plenty of new features and content in the latest iRacing season update to sink your teeth into. If you fancy a quick rundown of what to expect, Coach Dave Academy’s Guide will run you through them.
Where To Race The New Caterham Academy And 420R
Should campaigning the latest single-class hero to join iRacing tickle your pickle, then you’ll have a couple of different ways of doing so.
To start with, there will be two separate brand-new racing series to take on. Both running in sprint formats, the Caterham Academy Challenge series will require a D-Class road licence to enter, while the Caterham 420R Cup fixture demands a C-Class licence.
Due to having less power and more forgiving road-based tires, the Academy will be easier to drive and less prone to punishing mistakes, making it the ideal place to learn the basics of driving a Caterham. The snappier and much faster 420R is good for more experienced drivers who are seasoned in driving a car with slicks and plenty of straight-line speed, given there is less margin for error in tight battles
- The Caterham Academy Challenge consists of races lasting for 15 minutes
- The Caterham 420R Cup encounters are slightly longer at 20 minutes
- The Caterham merges the road-car feel of the MX-5, with the lightness of a small single-seater
Final Thoughts
Seeing as they provide some of the most thrilling and breathless wheel-to-wheel combat in the racing world, it was only a matter of time before Caterham machinery managed to find its way into iRacing. It’s a great addition for those who love that kind of competition too, since it sits nicely between single-seaters and heavier production-based vehicles like the MX-5 and Toyota GR 86.
The two different types of Caterham available should also provide vastly different experiences, given the 420R handles like a more responsive racer like the Formula 3 car, while the Academy slides around and feels more like a Formula Vee or Formula Ford machine.
Just remember to make use of your mirrors, because with all those angry fellow Caterham pilots lining up to snatch away your spot, you’re gonna’ need them.
- Professional Sports & Formula iRacing Setups
- Telemetry Data - Brake, Throttle & Racing Lines
- AI Coaching To Gain Seconds in Lap Time
- Pro Reference Laps & Fixed Data Packs
