Popular Lotus Cup Race Series gets a global makeover
Over the years, the Lotus Cup Race Series has developed into one of the most successful race series brands in the world, often with capacity grids of Elise, Exige, 2-Eleven and Europa race cars racing and jostling for position. Previously operated from several countries in Europe and Japan, the Lotus Cup has now expanded considerably to include the USA, UK and Eastern Europe.
Not only has the Lotus Cup grown in size, the organisation of the series has been consolidated. For the first time this year, drivers will now race to one set of rules, regulations and formats in championships around the world including:
• Lotus Cup UK
• Lotus Cup Europe
• Lotus Cup Italy
• Lotus Cup USA (West Coast)
• Lotus Cup USA (East Coast)
• Lotus Cup Eastern Europe
• Lotus Cup Japan
Director of Lotus Motorsport Claudio Berro said: “Lotus sports car racing is one of the most popular forms of accessible motorsport in the world, both at a spectator and participant level. Now is the time to bring these championships under the Lotus umbrella, to ensure consistent look and feel to the competition. This will have obvious benefits to the current drivers and encourage new racers, ensuring that the cars and components remain good value and the competition retains its accessibility.”
Lotus will provide increased support and investment for these race series and will also ensure that the new Cup Championships retain the community feel and friendliness that an enthusiast based race series needs.
The Lotus Cup Championships will receive a new identity, logos, branding, website and Corporate Identity which are aligned closely to Lotus’ new motorsport strategy and initiatives announced over the last few months and consolidated at the Autosport show last weekend.
Global Calendars for the Lotus Cup Championships (subject to change)
| Lotus Cup UK – 2011 | |
| 19th-20th March | Snetterton |
| 17th April | Silverstone |
| 25th-26th June | Snetterton |
| 22nd-24th July | Brands Hatch |
| 13th-14th August | Donington Park |
| 30 September – 2nd October | Spa Francorchamps |
| Lotus Cup Europe – 2011 | |
| 30th April–1st May | Dijon Prenois |
| 14th–15th May | Magny Cours |
| 1st – 3rd July | Nurburgring |
| 22nd – 24th July | Brands Hatch |
| 17th – 18th September | Zolder |
| 30th September – 2nd October | Spa Francorchamps |
| Lotus Cup Italy – 2011 | |
| 16th – 17th April | Vallelunga |
| 7th – 8th May | Imola |
| 11th – 12th June | Varano de Melegari |
| 8th – 10th July | Rijeka |
| 30th – 31st July | Mugello |
| 24th – 25th September | Monza |
| 15th – 16th October | Franciacorta |
| 12th – 13th November | Varano de Melegari |
| Lotus Cup USA (West Coast) – 2011 | |
| 5th -6th March | Willow Springs Raceway, Rosamond, CA |
| 9th – 10th April | Firebird International Raceway, Pheonix, AZ |
| 28th – 29th May | Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, CA |
| 25th – 29th June | Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA |
| 27th – 28th August | Miller Motorsports Park, Salt Lake City, UT |
| 24th – 25th September | Buttonwillow Raceway, Buttonwillow, CA |
| 15th – 16th October | Spring Mountain Raceway, Pahrump, NV |
| 5th – 6th November | Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV |
| Lotus Cup USA (East Coast) – 2011 | |
| 9th – 10th May | Watkins Glen International Raceway, Watkins Glen, NY |
| 11th – 12th July | Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA |
| 24th – 25th September | Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham. AL |
| Lotus Cup Eastern Europe – 2011 | |
| 29th April – 1st May | Hungaroring, Hungary |
| 20th May – 22nd May | A1 Ring, Austria |
| 24th June – 26th June | Slovakiaring, Slovakia |
| 19th August – 21st August | Slovakiaring, Slovakia |
| 26th August – 28th August | PannoniaRing, Hungary |
| 16th – 18th September | A1 Ring, Austria |
| 14th – 16th October | Salzburgring, Austria |
| Lotus Cup Japan – 2011 | |
| Dates yet to be confirmed. |
