Here you can see the latest news about the rebuilding of Caterham CT05#1

As I type this the car is in the final stages of being brought back to life 

12th March 2024

12th March 2024Guys, the steering wheel is now talking to the engine ECU and we have progress. Thanks to Simon for all his expertese, next step is fitting the new wiring loom you can see in the picture into the car! 

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Early Feb 24

Early Feb 24Hi Guys, as we reach the "almost ready" point on the car I can confirm that the steering wheel is now 99% working with the Life module and should be in operation shortly. Likewise the first full fire up is almost there with the rebuilt gearbox, not long now until we go to the Dyno

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December 23

December 23Hi all, the wiring loom is almost there and then we can move onto the final mechanicals although the pedals are still a pain as we cannot find the correct Brembo part 

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November 2023

November 2023Hi all, the car is now being completed and the first big job is underway with the wiring loom and ECU / Data Logger. We have seen early benefits such as being able to use the original steering wheel which we hope is a job that can be completed as the car will look so much better. Next is the engine and ehaust...

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October 2023

October 2023The car is now in for completion, it left home last week and the first steps are to complete the wiring with a new LIFE ECU unit and data logger. Then organise a couple of replacement parts before setting up the engine and making sure it all works before putting CT05#1 onto a rolling road this winter. Keep an eye on the page in November and also chacj out my You tube channel caterhamf1 UK 

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May 2023

May 2023Hi all, sorry for the lack of updates. Work has been in the way of progress but I am now looking at the final pieces of work in front of us to get the car running. These include tweaks to the front suspension, a very good going over on the engine / gearbox and then checking brakes, steering etc. The plan is to have them all completed this year and then I will look at the diary for driving the car...

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February 2023

February 2023Hi all, the car is now parked up for a few weeks whilst I wait for the time to commence work once again. There is not much more to do other than repair the front nose and wing so keep an eye out for more updates 

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4th November

4th NovemberHi all, today Indi Seat were in action by creating a tailored made seat for me. This is placed in the tub and now is a snug fit for when I drive the car. The seat is rough for now but will be tweaked and covered once I have driven the car next year.

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30th September

30th SeptemberHi all, sorry for the silence, I have been working with a couple of smaller points but just as important on CT05#1. The wiring loom is being built and is nearing completion. This will link to the steering wheel and SHIFTEC system which means I only use the clutch to start the car and run off the padel system once the car is in first gear...

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5th August

5th AugustHi Guys, a little thank you added to the car for our Supporters today 

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25th of June

25th of JuneThe car is home and now in hibernation. There are a couple of small things to do plus I need to add fluids to run the car but that will all be done once I am ready to show the car again. It has been a heck of a journey, having met some nice people and plenty of not so nice ones, but we got there...

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31st May 2022

31st May 2022Great news, the car is home and now being looked after by myself again. On a weekend that witnessed Marcus Ericsson winning the Indy 500 what perfect timing to have the car back. There are still a few tweaks that are needed before it runs but its a weeks work rather than months of waiting. 

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25th May

25th MayWell, here we go. The words I have been waiting to type for six years. The car is coming home. No fluids and no exhaust but ready to be restored in days once I am ready. The main thing is that it is now 99.9% there

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12th May 2022

12th May 2022We now have the redesigned spacers for the front wheels, steering arms and a set of harness top straps. All off to be coated before being fitted.

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1st May

1st MayHi all, latest news is that the rear is now back on the car with tyres and discs. I am waiting for the revised steering arms to be made but hope to have these all done within the next couple of weeks. Then the car can sit on the floor again  

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10th April

10th AprilHi everyone, this week the Shiftec system arrived that we will be using on the Formula Renault gearbox. It means that I can change up and down without the original gearshift system so will be more like the original F1 steering wheel set up.

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2nd April

2nd AprilThe latest update is that the wiring loom is almost completed. Next week the paddle shift system should arrive and at the same time I am waiting to hear back from the machinist on the new steering arms. 

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17th March 2022

17th March 2022Today the wiring loom started to go in and that will be followed by a paddle shift whilst we wait for new steering arms to come back. Progress is slow but I keep pushing 

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22nd Jan

22nd JanWork is progressing with alterations to the floor and the tyres are on now. Waiting for the wiring to be completed and steering arms to be adjusted so I can order new ones. 

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12th Jan

12th JanThis tyre is on route to Caterham CT05#1. May not seem that important but it is as it means the car will soon be back on the floor after six years of work.  The wiring loom is being completed this month and paddle shift system sourced. I am using rain tyres to raise the ride height for easy of transport as we dont all have super flat F1 garages...

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8th Jan

8th JanGreat news, the 3D printed parts are a good fit and mean we have a good turning circle on the car. A small tweak to the design will mean they can be sent off for manufacture now. 

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1st Jan 2022

1st Jan 2022Hi all, we really are at the final stages now with tweaks needed to improve the turning circle of the car. The steering arm has been tweaked to allow more travel and now has been 3D printed so we can check it all works before having the final pair of arms made for the car

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26th December

26th DecemberJust waiting now for some 3D printing to be completed to test the new steering arms before they are made. Hopefully they will fit first time and then we can order the new parts. 

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15th December

15th DecemberHi all, sorry about the silence. We have had a hold up but back in the garage now. Currently tinkering with the engine so when the wiring loom and paddle shift is fitted we can fire everything up before placing the floor back onto the car and tweaking the steering arms. 

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11th Nov

11th NovGreat news, the wheels were completed last week and I collected them yesterday. I took them straight to CT05#1 and bolted two on. Plenty of tweaking to do now we have the wheels on that we couldnt get on with but at last the car looks like a car again. 

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1st November

1st NovemberWheels, we have wheels. A copy of the original Oz style however these have a fitting to match the Formula Renault hubs and original wheel nuts. 

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19th October

19th OctoberWhilst we wait for the wheels we can add little tweaks such as the air filter which arrived this week. As you can see the cam cover of the Formula Renault has been switched and adapted to fit under the F1 engine cover. 

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9th October

9th OctoberLatest news is that we are all waiting for the wheels to come back from manufacturing. Pedals are now in place but most of the small jobs need the wheels on to complete the set up. Extending the steering arms is a small job but cannot be started until the wheels are on. Once we have the wheels back it will be full steam ahead...

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16th September

16th SeptemberThis week has been a waiting week whilst we await the wheels to be completed by the middle of October plus expect the wiring and paddle shift systems to be sorted by the end of October. Its all go but carefully now as we reach the end of the project. 

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29th August

29th AugustGetting really close now with the pedal set being tweaked and pots all there where the original HALs unit was. Still waiting for the wheels and the wiring loom should be completed very soon. 

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23rd August

23rd AugustWhilst we wait for the wheels we have loads of updates. Pedals are now in with three fitted (clutch needed to start the car) Wiring loom has started to be fitted Small adjustment to the steering arm now designed to enhance cornering ability Front suspension now in place Small vanity panels for wishbones tweaked and in place Throttle body still being adjusted to fit

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13th August

13th AugustWe now have the majority of front suspension in place and are focusing on tweaking what we have to improve the turning of the car whilst we wait for the wheels to be completed. More information to follow. 

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5th August

5th AugustIn for a pedal box fitting this week so we know how much room we have around the front dampers so thought I would add this image as I climbed out of the car showing the back end. Waiting for wiring loom, manifold adaption to fit under the engine cover, paddle shift and plumbing the engine in at the back end...

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27th July

27th JulyNearly there. On the seventh anniversary of the last race for CT05#1 I thought I would share images of the 3D printed rain light now in place alongside the 3D printed lower wing sleeve. The actual lower wing is made of metal so please do not worry. #notlongnow

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20th July 2021

20th July 2021Whilst we wait for the wheels there are a few jobs that need sorting. One of which is the rear rain light. A unique design so it fits with the rear wing unit has been 3D printed, lacquered and now fitted to house the rear FIA light.

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11th July 2021

11th July 2021Lots of little jobs to be completed on the car whilst we wait for the wiring loom to go in and the wheels to be completed. Keep an eye out for more updates

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29th June 2021

29th June 2021We can now see what looks like massive steps but these are really milestone ones after all the hard work put in over the last few months. Pulled together for fitting we now have pull rod front suspension in place for the first time since 2014. It is all steel due to costs and designed around the Formula Renault hubs...

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25th June

25th JuneWhilst we wait for the wheels to be manufactured focus has been on bolting on the rear wing and sorting out brake lines plus a new set of wheel nuts. The head of the engine is off so the air intake can be adapted to fit the engine cover. All working towards the end of August when the wheels arrive.

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21st June 2021

21st June 2021Whilst we wait for the wheels to be made there is some tweaking to be done and final build on the front and back end of the car. Updated this week is the 3D printed rear light unit that has arrived after being designed especially for the Sadev Gearbox. The original was fitted to a crash structure and Red Bull Gearbox...

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11th June

11th JuneSmall updates this week whilst we wait for the wheels to be made. Wiring loom due soon with new ECU plus front end completion and running the engine again. Only a few weeks of work left on CT05#1 

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7th June

7th June Great news, we now have a rear wing set up that will work with the Formula Renault Sadev gearbox. There will be a steel lower wing that supports the rear wing unit and that will be covered with a “dress” wing that has been 3D printed for aesthetics but will carry no load. This will mean we can use an F1 carbon fibre rear wing set up on the car rather than the tiny Formula Renault rear wing...

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31st May

31st MayThis week the drive shafts we coated and fitted. The rear wing will connect to the Sadev gearbox via this bracket as designed especially for the project.

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27th May

27th MayLatest update is that the drive shafts are back from being coated, the bearings have all been tidied up and now they are all back on the car. The rear end is starting to look complete 

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21st May

21st MayThis week has seen 90% of the front end completed. Still waiting for the pull rods plus damper connections to to come back before focusing on the pedal box and steering. I thought I would share the side by side of CT05#1 and the show car as I think it looks cool. 

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15th May

15th MayAs a side note, we now have a Caterham F1 show car, perfect for static displays from 2022 onwards 

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8th May

8th MaySlower progress this week as the hubs were returned, now they are coated but waiting for the brake discs to come back so we can measure up the entire uprights set up to have wheels custom made. We were going to go for a set of bespoke hubs for the original wheels but because of the material needed that came up far more expensive than having wheels made for the car...

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23rd April

23rd AprilThis week has seen more progress with the four corners being placed onto the car, all be it on a temporary basis and being held with wood. Whilst there is still plenty to do such as hubs being coated before they can be fitted with the brakes on, this really does show progress. The floor is off again but thats so we can work on the car...

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9th April

9th AprilThis week was spent tweaking the rear end so we can use the original Formula Renault drive shafts and uprights. A small tweak of the floor means we can keep the original drive shafts and uprights. A small cut in the engine cover will need symmetrical blisters but once painted you will think they were always there...

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1st April

1st AprilWe have corners on the car and bolts, keep an eye out as the progress on rebuilding the front end starts. 

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26th March

26th MarchWe are pleased to say that this week all of our efforts are starting to deliver. On Wednesday I had a temporary fitting for pedals as it looks very much like we can fit three pedals in the footwell. I apologise for my lockdown chins and sitting up in the car but I wanted to share this major step forward...

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13th March

13th MarchThis week construction of a vanity panel was commisioned. The panel sits on the front of the monocoque to raise its height so the later 2014 nose cone can be fitted. In addition to this we have knuckles returned now they are made and we are waiting for the final pieces to arrive from manufacture so the front end supension can be bolted together...

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8th March

8th MarchMost of the final design work is now completed and parts are coming back from Manufacture. Steering arm pieces are looking good, I hope the picture shows where they fit as the first one is from the mock up that was 3D printed. The next steps are having parts returned so we can bolt the majority of the front end together...

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4th March

4th MarchGreat news with loads of progress this week – Thanks team. New fuel tank installed. 3D printed rear wing fixings have shown slight tweaks were needed around the reverse cable. These are underway so we can have the parts manufactured. Although the car may look like its gone backwards, its all been sripped, coated, cleaned and fixed ready to go...

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20th Feb

20th FebAnother great week. This week the fuel tank was completed, not an expensive bag but a more standard tank that will hold around 30ltrs. This will be more than enough for demonstration runs. The wishbones have been returned after coating, as have the brakes and uprights. Next week we hope to have some more parts back from manufacture as well as the 3D parts for the back end, to mount the carbon rear wing around the Sadev 6 speed gearbox...

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10th Feb

10th FebReally pleased with the progress we are making now. Weight has been removed from the wishbones and engine mounts and the inboard suspension is there whilst we wait for the lower knuckles to be made at the front end. 3D prints of the support structure for the rear wing are in progress. As the original gearbox was made by RBR we are adapting the rear wing to work with the Sadev 6 speed gearbox on the car thats just been rebuilt...

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1st Feb

1st FebWe managed to get the engine mounts milled out to reduce the weight by around 33Kgs. The same work is being carried out on the over weight front wishbones right now. We should have the four corners of the front end back later today and are ordering the hub 3d mock ups. Great progress at last thanks to the new team on the case...

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24th Jan 2021

24th Jan 2021Good progress this week thanks to the team. We now have the inboard front suspension parts in the workshop and will be placing the order for the initial four front corner connections with the wishbones. The fuel tank is also in progress. The most striking update amongst all of this is the hub design so the Formula Renault uprights can take the Oz Formula one wheels...

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13th Jan 2021

13th Jan 2021This week and last had some real progress and I feel like we have traction now as we aim to get the car running this year. Over the last couple of weeks, the guys have been tidying up some of the issues they inherited and as such progress went backwards before it could go forward. Over the last week we have: Tracked down and purchased 2 Rear Oz 2014 Caterham Wheels to be used Tracked down and purchased the correct in board front end rockers etc Started the work on taking surplus weight out of the wishbones and engine mounts Started ordering suspension brackets etc, that were, until now, 3D printed Talking to fuel cell Suppliers The next steps are to receive the updated parts and start the rebuild of the car with the revised weighted parts before we move to ordering rear suspension...

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1st Jan 2021

1st Jan 2021Hi all, well we come in to the new year with new enthusiasm. After last years delays and issues we now have the car stripped back with a rebuilt gearbox ready to be re-assembled. In addition the original wheels are now back with the car so it can run on the Oz rims and a plan for re-build is in  place, all be it with a few tweaks needed...

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20th December

20th DecemberNow we have the basics of the wheel adaptor. This will be the link between the Formula Renault uprights we are using and the F1 wheels needed to run with F1 tyres rather than the smaller Formula Renault tyres. This is a complicated piece and at the rear will link to the main drive shafts which will need to be lonfer than usual to clear the wider F1 floor on the car...

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10th December 2020

10th December 2020The Gearbox has been fully rebuilt and is now back with the car. Likewise the back of the tub has been painted with heat resistant paint so we are now ready to start putting the rear end of the car together. Based on work already in the pipeline CT05#1 will be going to a new workshop next week for the reassembly...

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1st December 2020

1st December 2020Sorry about the lack of information. With the Lockdown in place we have had trouble progressing additional work needed from outsourced Companies. Now the car is in the hands of a proffesional organisation we have started again but that doesnt seem as bad as it sounds. The back end of the monocoque has been cleaned up and re-sprayed so the car looks as it should and the Sadev gearbox has been rebuilt with new parts...

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3rd Oct 2020

3rd Oct 2020This week we had a gap where the gearbox was off being rebuilt. The rear uprights and casings are now cleaned up and waiting for the gearbox to be completed. 

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28th August

28th AugustThe car is now being stripped and put back together by proffesionals and its started with cleaning up component parts. This week the bell housing and rear uprights have been aqua blasted to bring them back to the standard you would expect from an F1 car, Thanks guys, looking good. 

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7th August

7th AugustThe carbon floor is now fitted to the car, although it will need to come off again to tidy up the engine and its component parts. The next step is to ensure the rear wing measurements work with the Formula Renault Gearbox beofre stripping the engine down and tidying it up due to the way it was fitted by the last Mechanic who worked on it...

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22nd July

22nd JulyGreat to see the floor offered up yesterday as we tie the floor to the Formula Renault engine and gearbox that will now power the car. The original RBR gearbox and Renault Power Unit were a different shape so this step is key in getting the car to roll again. 

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16th July 2020

16th July 2020With the car now in its new workshop we have been focused on ensuring the floor and rear wing all line up with the extended rear wheel base. A few tweaks, some additional design work and we hope to fit the carbon floor back to the car next week before engine work begins to bring it up to scratch before we use the car again...

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16th June

16th JuneLatest update is that the car is now in the hands of proffesionals and the first job is to extend the width of the rear by around 50cms. The Formula Renault back end is much narrower than an F1 rear so the drive shafts and wishbones need to be created to fit.

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5th June

5th JuneNext week the carbon floor will be offered up against the engine and gearbox to gain a better understanding of rear wheel width requirements and what is needed to tidy up the engine 

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26th May

26th MayThe chassis is now based near to Silverstome for the final assembly and this will start with 3D printed flex joints at the front end being CNC'd into the relevant steel before the suspension can be finalised at the front end. Still quite a bit of tweaking to do such as fixing the fuel bag into the cell void but getting there...

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30th April

30th AprilGreat news. The CT05 nose cone arrived from the USA and it looks like the one Kobayashi hit the wall with in Singapore. This was a later nose to the one used on my chassis which was introduced in Spa 2014 so it means adding a small vanity panel above the back of the nose which can be 3D printed as it is not structual...

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25th March

25th MarchAt last, we have found a nosecone that may save a few bob in carbon fabriacation. I hope to have it delivered within a couple of weks and then will have to wait to take it to the composite experts to see if they can use it. If it does work then I will be running with the later nose on CT05#1. During this time of crisis please stay safe and watch out for front suspension updates...

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29th Feb 2020

29th Feb 2020Latest update is that we are now able to do the final calculations for wheel offset and then order wheels over the next couple of weeks. Wheels will have to be bespoke due to the Formula Renault hub's being used with F1 Pirelli tyres 

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26th of January

26th of JanuaryDesign time now for the upper wishbones as they need to be made to fit the Formula Renault uprights, this stage is always slow I am afraid.

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