Caterham Cars has confirmed automotive lifestyle brand Caffeine and Machine will be the official partner of its grassroots motor sport series, the Caterham Academy, in 2026.
Officially known as the Caffeine&Machine Caterham Academy, the 2026 season kicks off at the Curborough Sprint Course in Staffordshire, UK, on 9 May.
The new partnership will see Caffeine and Machine founder and director Phil McGovern take part in the all seven rounds of the 2026 championship, fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a racing driver.
McGovern and his rivals will compete in the new Horse Technologies-powered Academy car, which uses a 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine producing 130bhp. Despite being a bona fide competition machine, the Academy car remains fully road legal, allowing owner-drivers to enjoy their challenger both on the road and on the circuit.
‘For nearly 30 years, the Caterham Academy has been the starting point for racing journeys – a championship that captures the pure thrill of motorsport,’ McGovern said. ‘Partnering with Caterham feels like a natural step for us… [it] marks the coming together of two communities built on a shared passion for driving, competition and the culture that surrounds it.’
For decades, the fully inclusive Caterham Academy has been one of the most accessible routes for novice drivers to begin competing in motor sport. Alongside the car, license and entry fees, entrants receive technical support and expert tuition as part of the £42,995 on-the-road package.
More than 1400 drivers, including touring-car star Ollie Jackson, have competed in the series since it began in 1995. The seven rounds of next year’s season will comprise one sprint race and seven 20-minute races with grids of 30 drivers.
‘There’s real excitement around this partnership, and for good reason,’ commented Caterham’s head of motorsport Alex Read. ‘Caterham and Caffeine and Machine sit at the heart of the UK’s automotive community, and bringing our worlds together for the 2026 Academy season feels special.’
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