\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, it’s also the most expensive at £21,495; but for that all-in price you get: \r\n\r\nCATERHAM 7 ROADSPORT (1.6 125BHP)\r\nA complete road-legal car for self-assembly\r\n\r\nACADEMY SEMINAR\r\nAn introduction to the year ahead with hints and tips on everything from building your car to buying the right crash helmet.\r\n\r\nSET-UP DAY\r\nLearn how to tune the car to suit your driving.\r\n\r\nARDS TEST & MEDICAL\r\nGet your racing licence.\r\n\r\nCIRCUIT TEST DAY\r\nFinal testing before your first event.\r\n\r\nALL LICENCE, CLUB MEMBERSHIP, \r\nENTRY FEES & REGISTRATION FEES\r\nTaking care of all that boring admin.\r\n\r\nHANDLING DAY\r\nHoning your driving skills in your very own 7.\r\n\r\n2 CHAMPIONSHIP SPEED EVENTS\r\nStart your season with hillclimbs and sprints.\r\n\r\n5 CHAMPIONSHIP CIRCUIT RACES\r\nRacing wheel to wheel with other novice racers on tracks across the UK.\r\n\r\nWANT TO KNOW MORE?\r\nCheck out www.caterham.co.uk\r\n\r\nBearing in mind that second-hand Academy-spec cars can still fetch up to £18k, this doesn’t seem such a bad deal. Caterham can keep down the costs through sponsorship deals, helped by a bit of TV coverage, and the certainty that you’ll be needing the odd few spares over the race season. \r\n\r\nFor the complete novice, going racing for the first time is a nerve-wracking experience; the Caterham Academy package takes a huge amount of hassle and stress off the newbie driver’s nomex-clad shoulders. One thing is for certain, when MotorPunk starts raking in some serious dosh my cheque and application will be winging its way down to Caterham HQ before the ink is dry ... or Mrs. O asks for a new kitchen.\r\n\r\nMichael Downing took up the challenge a few years ago and now campaigns his 1.6-litre Roadsport in the graduate series. In the first of three features for MotorPunk Michael gives us his insight into Caterham’s Academy Championship - if, after you’ve read them all, you’re not inspired to save up and do it for yourselves, then we reckon you must be a little bit dead inside.