Caffeine&Machine Caterham Academy will serve as the official title for the 2026 season of Caterham’s acclaimed entry-level racing series.
Caterham has named Caffeine&Machine as the headline partner for the 2026 Caterham Academy Championship, rebranding next year’s competition as the Caffeine&Machine Caterham Academy.
Under the agreement, Phil McGovern — founder and director of the renowned automotive culture destination — will compete in all seven rounds, finally realising his long-held ambition to become a racing driver.
The collaboration signals a fresh chapter for the Caterham Academy, coinciding with the 2026 debut of the all-new Horse Technologies-powered Academy car. Equipped with direct-injection technology, the compact 1.3-litre four-cylinder ‘HR13’ engine delivers a peak output of 130 bhp at 5,700 rpm and maximum torque of 176 Nm at 5,150 rpm.
Phil McGovern, Founder and Director of Caffeine&Machine, said: “For nearly 30 years the Caterham Academy has been the starting point for countless racing journeys – a championship that captures the pure thrill of motorsport. Partnering with Caterham feels like a natural step for us; their cars are icons, their community is the real deal and the experience they create is second to none.”
“The Caffeine&Machine Caterham Academy marks the coming together of two communities built on a shared passion for driving, competition, and the culture that surrounds it. On a personal level, this one hits home. I’m so thrilled to be joining the grid in 2026, chasing the same dream that started it all: to go fast and be part of something bigger than myself.”
The comprehensive Caterham Academy package provides first-time racers with their own road-legal Caterham Seven, along with dedicated technical support, professional coaching and expert guidance across the entire season. Over seven rounds, drivers master the nuances of car control, develop sharp racecraft, and discover the unique camaraderie that defines grassroots racing — an experience unmatched by any other novice championship in the UK.
Alex Read, Head of Motorsport at Caterham said: “There’s real excitement around this partnership, and for good reason. Caterham and Caffeine&Machine sit at the heart of the UK’s automotive community, and bringing our worlds together for the 2026 Academy season feels special.”
“The Caterham Academy represents the purest form of grassroots motorsport in the UK and Phil embodies what that experience is all about – enthusiasm, competition and the shared love of racing that connects us all. We’re thrilled to be able to help Phil achieve this racing dream and look forward to seeing how he lines up on the grid next year.”
Since its inception in 1995, the Caterham Academy has launched more than 1,400 drivers into competitive racing. Next year’s championship will feature seven rounds, each including one sprint race and seven 20-minute races contested by grids of up to 30 cars. The 2026 season begins in May.
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