In a car that weights less than a Formula One car, achieves 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds and capable of generating 3g of lateral force, the Caparo T1 is as close as you get to having a Formula One car for the road. As best described by WCF contributor, Nick Hall, who got some seat time in the T1, “...the McLaren F1 and the Bugatti Veyron are supercars that perform on the track, the Caparo T1 is a track car that can be driven on the road. There is no matching luggage, no great lifestyle statement, the T1 is purely about blistering speed.”
As one of the most popular BBC television shows worldwide, Top Gear, had their anonymous race track driver, the Stig, put the T1 through its paces on their makeshift airport race track with astonishing results. Smashing the previous record held by the the Koenigsegg CCX the Caparo T1's lap time was a full seven seconds quicker at 1 min 10.6 seconds. Despite the almost vulgar display of performance, Top Gear rule makers disqualified the T1 from making their final results since it is required that each eligible contender must have a minimum ride height which allows clear passage over a speed bump.
Despite numerous technical problems resulting in restarts during the lap runs, Caparo T1 designer, Ben Scott-Geddes stated that, “the model we supplied to Top Gear was one of our final engineering vehicles without adjustable ride height and electronic active driver control systems which are standard on our production models. When driver’s select the ‘road’ setting, the car is more tractable in slower speed conditions and the ride height is fully adjustable to bring the car up to 90mm clearance, making it more than capable of driving over speed bumps.”
“We certainly hope that the Caparo T1 is given another chance by Top Gear to take its rightful place at the top of the leader board; even if they put a speed bump on the track we are confident of our success,” says Angad Paul, chief executive officer, Caparo Group.
Clearly Caparo were unaware of the rule and can provided a vehicle which meets their requirements. Hopefully, Top Gear will relent and give them another chance.
