MOTORSPORT: Caterham ready to 'be part of show' (From Bicester Advertiser)

MOTORSPORT: Caterham ready to 'be part of show'

11:00am Saturday 16th March 2013 in Sport

Season’s previews for Oxfordshire’s Formula 1 teams

CATERHAM team principal Cyril Abiteboul has no doubt his marque will play a key role in the Formula 1 show, despite a radical overhaul over the past few months.

The Leafield team finished tenth in the constructors’ championship from Marussia last year courtesy of Vitaly Petrov’s 11th place in the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Petrov and Heikki Koval-ainen have gone as Abiteboul has opted for Charles Pic from Marussia and promoted Giedo van der Garde up from reserve.

With Abiteboul taking over from owner Tony Fernandes, and with the new Leafield HQ only seven months old, these are new days for the team.

“On the surface it may look like we’re starting 2013 in a similar position to 2012, but inside the team it is very different,” said Abiteboul.

But can Caterham end their three-year wait for a point?

Abiteboul added: “Both drives are young, determined to succeed and eager to help the team achieve its goals.

“At the end of 2012 we were a central part of the F1 show, and I have told both drivers to be ready to be part of the show in 2013.

“We can be confident we are going to attract interest in us for the right reasons.”