Caterham reveal team plans to move to Oxfordshire

By Andrew Benson Chief F1 writer, BBC Sport website

Caterham  have announced they are moving their base from Norfolk to Leafield in Oxfordshire.

The team, who raced in 2010-11 as Lotus, plan to make the move in August and bring the F1 team and niche sportscar company under one roof.

Team owner Tony Fernandes  said the move would "give us the best chance to meet our goals on and off the track".

Caterham facts and stats

  • Nationality: Malaysian
  • Debut season: 2010
  • Drivers: Jarno Trulli & Heikki Kovalainen
  • Team principal: Tony Fernandes
  • Technical director: Mike Gascoyne
  • Engine: Renault V8
  • 2010 position: 10th

They are moving into the factory previously used by Arrows, which ceased after financial difficulties in 2002.

It was also the base of the TWR engineering group, whose founder Tom Walkinshaw, a major figure in motorsport, died in 2010 .

Caterham's current base in Hingham, Norfolk, will be retained as the permanent base of the Caterham Composites company, which provides high-tech engineering support for clients in a number of industries alongside motorsport, including yachting.

Caterham have already confirmed Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli as their drivers for the third consecutive season in 2012.

However, Trulli's seat is under threat and it is tipped to be taken by Russian former Renault driver Vitaly Petrov.