Lotus Cup: All For One And One For All!

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.