This $17.5k 2022 Legend is a grass-roots US track-day car

This is the new 2022 Legend Cars… um, Legend. It’s a cheap, lightweight track car built for a variety of drivers, right from ham-fisted panicked beginner right up to Stig-level pros.

So basically an American Caterham. It’s also tiny – a 5/8 scale fibreglass body shaped like “a classic modified American race car” covering a tubular chassis inside a compact 1.8m wheelbase.

There’s a diddy 847cc Yamaha triple nestled inside kicking out a heady 125bhp, allied to coilover suspension with adjustable shocks, able to be set up for track, off-road or “other specialty driving conditions”.

Each 2022 Legend gets 13in racing wheels wrapped in Hoosier tyres, and the whole thing weighs just 566kg. The company offers a number of series for drivers of all ages to enter too, like the ‘Young Lions’ division (12-15 years old), Semi-Pro (16+), Master Class (40+) and Professional Expert level. Fairly self explanatory, that one.

“The best teacher of all is real-time experience,” explains US Legend Cars managing director Graham T Smith. “Our 2022 Legend car gives young drivers with professional ambitions and novices at any age the chance to compete.

“Whether someone is 12 years old or 50, our Legend car is made to make all racing dreams come true,” he added.

Cheaply, too. Prices start at $17,500, all built in the US and available for delivery now. Believe it or not, the first one was launched back in 1992 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.