As the sheets slipped off the CT03s in the pitlane at Jerez, it was obvious that the livery has been slightly refreshed for 2013. The CT03 has a lighter, refreshed green and yellow color scheme, which the new Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul says will help improve visibility of the Caterham cars on track.
Caterham seems to have skipped the designation CT02 since that is the code name for the Caterham/Renault project. The CT03 is the first car to be produced from the team’s new home at Leafield. Mark Smith, Technical Director who thinks this is an important milestone for the team says the CT03 is an evolution of the CT01 as the team wants to start working on the 2014 car as early in the season as possible. “We have made a number of significant changes to the car that takes it from the package that gained us 10th place in the championship in Brazil in 2012 into CT03. Among the most obvious are around the lower chassis where the sidepods have been significantly undercut to improve airflow to the rear of the car. The diffuser, engine cover and cooling exits have also seen major changes and there are more subtle improvements to other areas of the car, such as the sidepod turning vanes and the lower tea-tray area. This is the package we will take to race one in Australia and as part of the 2013 upgrade program we will then bring new front and rear wings and a new diffuser soon after the start of the season.” he added.
Charles Pic, who was with Marussia last year, and Giedo van der Garde make up the driver line up for Caterham F1 Team. “Driving the cars this year are Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde, two drivers who give us a good mix of youth and experience inside and outside Formula One. ” said Cyril Abiteboul.
Tony Fernandes, under whose able guidance as Team Principal the team secured the 10th place in the championship in Brazil in 2012 now moves into a less demanding role as the co-chairman of the Caterham Group.
The CT03 retains the stepped nose of the CT01, not opting for the vanity panel.
