Leicestershire based Roger Clark Motorsport (RCM), the internationally renowned motor sport company, have recently purchased a new Cat 432E backhoe from Finning Caterpillar. Working at the RCM headquarters at the Clark family home in Desford, the Caterpillar backhoe is proving itself as a must-have versatile tool, working on everything from track maintenance to the lifting of heavy engines.

Formed by the late British rally champion, Roger Clark, in 1991, RCM specialises in both Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer services, combining the family passion for rallying and engineering. Having recently completed a rebuild of a Subaru Impreza, the RCM Gobstopper, now one of the most sort after customised Subaru cars and capable of reaching speeds in excess of 200 mph, is a perfect example of the engineering capabilities of RCM. These expertise are reflected in the racing success of the Roger Clark rallying team and through servicing and mail order components, customers from all over the world can also get access to this high tech and tailored engineering.

Commenting on the purchase of the Cat 432E, Roger Clark Motorsport MD, Olly Clark said: “The engineering and build quality of a product is very important for my brother and I, not just from a rallying point of view but in the services that we provide for our customers. So when looking to purchase equipment for personal use, we always take these factors into account. The Cat 432E is a great example of quality engineering, it’s really well made and so versatile, just what we wanted to help us around the farm and garage.”

Living across the road from the large Finning and Caterpillar site at Desford, Olly and his brother Matt were able to take full advantage of the services offered by Finning. Having decided that they needed a piece of Cat equipment, Olly contacted local, Finning area sales rep, Paul Ballard who was able to introduce them to the Cat 432E backhoe and even secure a trip around the factory to show it being made.

Olly continued: "Matt and I wanted a machine that was fun but also served a purpose. Paul recommended the Cat 432E backhoe to us, mainly due to its versatility. As a jack of all trades type machine, we were able to perform a variety of jobs in both the garage and on the farm. The location of the Finning depot was of course a big pull in the decision making process, as we did trial rival machines, but as we too are in the vehicle service industry we recognise that no matter how hard a machine works it is only as good as the back-up service that supports it and that is why before we made the purchase we also visited Finnings service depot in Desford and spoke to some of the engineers. It was really this experience that sealed the deal."

With its twin mode of operation, the Caterpillar backhoe range is the machine of choice for contractors, farmers and ground workers, as it can be used for so many applications. The most impressive feature of the E-Series is the cab design, widened for better performance; operative comfort is key when turning from one mode of controls to another. The curved, tinted glass also maximises the space available in the cab as well as providing great visibility. When using the rear controls, there is no console to obscure the view so the operative can see the full length of the stick, boom and work tool during operation.

With a narrow excavator boom design, the work tool is always clearly visible. The diversity of the backhoe is apparent from the large range of tools available, from a standard duty bucket, with thick wear side plates for reinforcement, to a pickup sweeper taken from the loader range. This sheer versatility is the reason that the Caterpillar backhoe range is seeing resurgence in popularity, Paul Ballard, the Finning sales rep responsible for the purchase by Roger Clark Motorsport commented: "The Caterpillar backhoe range is a great all rounder. With loads of attachments available, its capabilities are endless. When I first spoke to Olly and Matt it was obvious that the Cat 432 was perfect for them, they wanted a multi-purpose machine that they could use around the farm and help with the lifting of engines etc, and something they could ultimately have some fun with.

Being "The Next Generation" of backhoe loaders, the Cat 432E is the result of years of engineering and expertise. Both Olly and Matt appreciate the quality build of Caterpillar equipment and it is ideally suited to their "buy it once mentality." Along with the service support that we provide, Finning have been able to solve all of Olly and Matt’s needs with one Caterpillar machine."