Caffeine&Machine announced as title partner of Caterham’s 2026 Academy championship
Founder and Director Phil McGovern will race in all seven rounds of the championship
Caffeine&Machine Caterham Academy will be the official name of the 2026 season
Caterham Academy is a popular all-inclusive ‘introduction to motorsport’ package created exclusively for novice drivers
The 2026 Caterham Academy season starts May 2026
Dartford, Thursday, 27 November 2025 – Caterham has announced Caffeine&Machine as the official partner of the 2026 Caterham Academy Championship, with next year’s championship being officially named the Caffeine&Machine Caterham Academy.
As part of this partnership, Founder and Director of the celebrated automotive culture hub, Phil McGovern, will take part in all seven championship rounds, fulfilling his dream of becoming a racing driver.
This partnership kicks off a new generation for the Caterham Academy championship, with 2026 being the debut season for the new Horse Technologies-powered Academy car. Featuring direct injection technology, the 1.3 litre, four-cylinder ‘HR13’ engine can produce peak power of 120kW (163PS) and a peak torque of 250Nm at 1,600rpm.
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 all-inclusive Caterham Academy package offers novice drivers their own road-legal Caterham Seven, technical support, expert tuition and guidance throughout the duration of the championship. Across the seven rounds, drivers learn the art of car control, race craft and the joys of the camaraderie of racing – something no other novice championship offers 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 launch in 1995, over 1,400 drivers have become racing drivers because of Caterham Academy. The seven rounds of next year’s Academy championship will consist of one sprint race and seven 20-minute races of 30 participants. The 2026 season kicks off in May.
For more information, please visit the Caterham website.
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