New Format for Lotus Cup Europe Gives new Dimension to Club Racing
The Lotus Cup Europe starts its 2009 season with a new promoter and new format to give a new dimension to club racing. The first round is at Brands Hatch over the weekend of 1st to 3rd of May as a supporting race to the “World Cup of Motorsport” Formula A1GP International program.
The series will be organised and run by Lotus On Track Racing Drivers Club (LoTRDC) who, with MotorSport Vision Racing, also run the highly successful “Elise Trophy” race series in the UK.
Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc said: “I am very much looking forward to the Lotus Cup Europe program this year, and to the brilliant racing this series promises. Lotus cars are perfect for a race series of this type, as the drivers have the ability to race at a rewarding pace and drive the car to and from the event as well. The series, which has been created for Elise, Exige and 2-Eleven cars, means that our pan-european owners and drivers now have even more of an opportunity to exploit their cars and skills on the racetrack.”
Paul Golding, LoTRDC Director and Series Coordinator commented, "The outstanding success of Elise Trophy from its inception just two years ago has shown there is tremendous enthusiasm out there for Lotus in racing - not just amongst the competitors but also from the many Lotus owners and fans who follow the series from circuit to circuit. Now with Lotus Cup Europe there is an added dimension, with the opportunity to both race and spectate at some of the greatest circuits in Europe. The opening round of Lotus Cup Europe in 2009 kicks off the new season in fine style at one of the world’s great motorsport events. However, it’s as the season goes on and as new drivers come in that we'll see the real enthusiasm across Europe for drivers wishing to race their Lotus cars.”
The history of the Lotus Cup Europe:
The Lotus Cup Europe Series, now in its sixth year, started in 2004 as a direct response to customer and Lotus Dealer interest in a ‘fun’ but professionally run motorsport series in Europe. During that time it has attracted many competitors from all over Europe, a large number of whom have been new to Lotus cars and racing.
Who can enter the Lotus Cup Europe
Anyone holding a current driving licence and is living in Europe can compete in Lotus Cup Europe. All that is needed is a National Race Licence from the respective European Countries Motorsports authority and a Lotus, of course!
The Lotus Cup Europe aims to provide a friendly, safe and financially viable series for those wishing to race a Lotus Exige, Elise or 2-Eleven in Europe.
There are three classes within the Lotus Cup Europe series and all cars will run on Yokohama A048 ’LTS’ and ’M’ control tyres.
ï Production Class: For series 1 and 2 Elises with a maximum hub power of 151bhp (170bhp fly wheel) and a minimum combined weight of driver and car of 825kg. Also open to standard Series 2 Exige and 111R Toyota engined cars with a maximum hub power of 169bhp.
ï 2-Eleven Class: For standard and slightly modified 2-Eleven cars*.
ï Exige Cup Class: For Exige S2 Cup cars and S2 Exige variants – For Exige variants up to a maximum of 235bhp at the hubs (260bhp at the flywheel) with a minimum weight of 850kg. includes Lotus Cup 260, Lotus Cup 255, Lotus Cup 240, Lotus Cup 190 and Lotus Exige S.
Costs – fantastic value
Entry costs per race are between £300 and £350 (tax exempt) per race meeting.
Format
A typical race meeting will involve a 20 minute practice session, followed by two 20 minute races. At some rounds free practice will be available and there will be an option of a test or track day. The second 20 minute race may be held in a “reverse top 10” format.
The Calendar for 2009
1. Brands Hatch GP (UK): 1st - 3rd of May
2. Zandvoort (Netherlands): 23rd - 24th of May
3. Hockenheim (Germany): 20th - 21st of June
4. Donington Park GP (UK): 15th - 16th of August
5. Dijon Prenois (France): 4th - 5th of September
6. Spa Francorchamps (Belgium): 2nd - 4th of October
7. Le Mans (France): 24th - 25th of October
*Full Event Regulations and step by step instructions on how to enter a race, together with paddock and track procedures can be found at www.lotuscupeurope.com.
The website has full details of the seven-round race calendar and an overview of each circuit including track layouts and directions on how to get there. Closer to each race date, the website will also show confirmed driver entries and give the race event timings. The site will be updated after each event with race results, reports and event images.
Ends
About Lotus
The main operating subsidiary of Group Lotus plc is Lotus Cars Limited, which has two operating divisions - Lotus Engineering and Lotus Cars. Lotus Engineering is an internationally recognised automotive engineering consultancy based in Norfolk, UK. Global facilities include those in Michigan (USA), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), China and offices in Germany.
Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world's OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, offering a full engineering service from initial concept and project design through development and integration of the complete vehicle to meet all worldwide markets and customers to full production. This includes third party 'niche vehicle' engineering and manufacture worldwide.
Lotus Cars builds world class, prestige, high performance sports cars for sale in 37 countries. These include the iconic Lotus Elise, and the Exige and Europa. Lotus’ latest model, the Lotus Evora, goes on sale from Spring 2009. Lotus is a global high-tech company, expanding rapidly and committed to driving forward technology for both Lotus Cars and its Engineering clients, spearheading research into such areas as hybrids, electric vehicles and renewable fuels.
For more information about Lotus please contact:
PR Department; Group Lotus plc,
Potash Lane, Hethel, Norfolk, UK, NR14 8EZ
Tel: 0044(0)1953 608264;
Email: pr@lotuscars.co.uk
About LoTRDC
Lotus Cup Europe is organised by LoTRDC in conjunction with MSVR - the racing club division of MotorSport Vision - owners of Brands Hatch and four other major circuits. Both organisation currently organise and promote the “Elise Trophy”. The Elise Trophy has been the success story of UK motor sport over the past two seasons with full grids and quality meetings across the UK. With one of the best calendars in UK motor sport the Elise Trophy has supported major events such as DTM and A1GP. In addition the series has headlined a number of Lotus Celebration events and has the largest spectator following of any club series in the UK thanks to support from the Lotus community. MSVR organise and promote a number of high profile race series including British Superbikes and Formula Palmer Audi in addition to running top class events at their circuits such as World Super Bikes and World Touring Cars.
For more information on Race entries and Regulations please contact:
Paul Golding, LoTRDC (Race Organiser)
Telephone: 0033 950 277 787
Fax: 0033 359 350 142
Mobile: 0044 770 3192 714
Email: paul@lotus-on-track.com