Drive It Upside Down

The fully tunable suspension and adjustable aerodynamics, including adjustable front wing, rear wing, “fowler flaps,” and alternate wing options for road or track operation mean the T1 truly sticks to the road. At 150 mph, and with the proper wing configuration, Caparo claims the T1 generates enough downforce that it could drive through a tunnel upside down (at which point the downforce would be “upforce”) [Source: Yahoo.com].

This means the T1 can generate more aerodynamic downforce than the actual weight of the car. That is possible, in part, because the T1 is one of the lightest supercars ever built. At 470 kg (about 1,036 pounds) and 480 hp, the T1 has an incredible power-to-weight ratio, fulfilling Caparo’s goal of a car with 1,000 hp per metric ton. An aluminum and carbon fiber monocoque chassis, carbon fiber body panels and a host of other ultralight materials help keep the T1 in racing trim.

Front view of the Caparo
© T1 Cars Limited 2006
Front view of the Caparo T1.

The suspension is primarily inspired by F1 cars, with in-board shocks, a double wishbone in the front and rear, and adjustable anti-roll bars in the front and rear. Fully floating steel race disc brakes with machine race calipers provide stopping power, and are fully adjustable through the brake bias pedal box. The ECU is tunable as well, and the dashboard data readout includes options for data logging.

Track Fast, Road Safe
Caparo could have developed the T1 as a pure race car and entered it into any number of competitions. However, to truly grab attention, they made it street legal (in the United Kingdom, at least), so speed freaks with fat wallets can get excited about taking a T1 for a white-knuckle cruise when the local road course has an open track day. It's certainly a head-turner for those who want to arrive at special events in style, though it might be tough to climb in and out of the cockpit in an evening gown.

To keep the T1 safe and legal, the pylons that support the rear wing contain LED turn signals and brake lights, with headlights installed in the cowlings that cover the front tires. The cockpit is a hard "cell," with added protection coming from a steel roll hoop to keep the driver’s head from hitting the ground in the event of a rollover. The front of the car is designed to crush, absorbing impacts, and the honeycomb design of the chassis also adds strength and impact absorption. Both driver and passenger are held in place by a six-point harness and a head protection system that is compatible with the HANS device (Head and Neck Support, used by many drivers in top racing series worldwide). An optional fire suppression system, in both road and track versions, is also available.

Caparo headlights
© T1 Cars Limited 2006
Typical F1 racing cars don't have headlights, where the Caparo T1 does.

Other options are available for potential T1 owners who aren’t content with the car’s £180,000 (just over $354,000 U.S.) price tag. Magnesium race wheels, carbon ceramic brake discs, a special aerodynamic performance package, track data package and wheel tethers are crucial for those who plan to hit the track, while leather interior is possible for those who want some comfort with their speed. Other amenities, like a radio or air-conditioning, are nowhere to be found on a car so purely designed for economy of weight like the T1.

For more information on the Caparo TI, race cars and related topics, check out the links on the next page.