Caterham Academy Graduate competes in BTCC

Former Caterham Academy graduate, Ollie Jackson, has competed in the final two rounds of the British Touring Car Championship making him the first former Academy racer to do battle in the legendary series.

Piloting a Triple 8 Engineering Vauxhall Vectra, the British GT driver made his BTCC debut at Brands Hatch (2 Oct) followed by an appearance at the championship’s final round at Silverstone (16 Oct).

Caterham Academy racers have progressed to an array of series spanning single seaters, GT cars and Porsche championships but Ollie is the first graduate of Caterham’s novice only series to compete in the BTCC.

The reigning Carrera Cup Pro-Am1 champion, Jackson, has been competing in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship but cut his teeth in the Caterham Academy, which has produced more than 850 racers since its inception in 1995.

The Academy is run exclusively to take novice racers through the process of gaining their race license as well as their first full season of competition and costs from only £20,495 – including the car. Only a handful of places remain for the 2012 series.

Simon Lambert, Caterham’s Motorsport Manager, said: “The Academy makes for hugely exciting racing but it’s the atmosphere and camaraderie in the paddock and the sheer enthusiasm that’s so infectious.

“It’s one of the cheapest routes into racing and whether you decide to progress through the ranks or simply use your Seven as a road car after the series is up to the individual, but in Ollie’s case, like many others, he’s progressed into high level racing and, naturally, we are delighted to shout about it.” 


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