Lotus Europe Kicks Off In Style At Dijon

The Lotus Cup Europe 2011 season gets started at Dijon-Prenois later this month (30 April – 1 May), returning to the picturesque former home of the French and Swiss Grands Prix after a year's absence at a circuit that is universally popular with Lotus drivers with its sweeping turns and elevation changes.

Sharing the bill at the Trophée de Bourgogne are the Belgian Touring Cars and Fun Cup for what should be a hugely entertaining meeting.

The 2-Eleven class looks like being the most popular in 2011 with Christophe Lisandre aiming to hold onto his crown but with over twenty cars entered this year his job will be a difficult one. Although Philippe Loup will be missing at Dijon there's no shortage of French drivers looking to run Christophe close for victory on their home soil with Laurent Feve and Jean Pierre Genoud Prachex returning from last season, whilst Karl Vivion joins them from the Exige Class. Amongst the UK drivers crossing the channel, Nicholas Walker joins his brother Jon, adding a sibling rivalry to match the Rasses. Simon Deacon has already been a winner this year in the opening round of Lotus Cup UK, whilst Steve Williams, Pete Storey and Tom Chatterway will all look to add to their trophy cabinets. We also welcome a number of new drivers who will no doubt be looking to impress in what is arguably the most competitive single make class in any European wide series; Thierry Humbert, Sven Pettersson and Olivier Severini are among that number.

After last year's exploits on the overall podium by eventual driver of the season Gregory Rasse, the Exige Class will be looking for another star this season. The obvious place to look to is Greg's brother John but Olivier Cunat is sure to provide stiff competition yet again, as will last year's newcomers Gregor Zetsche, Glenn Sherwood and Jean Baptiste Meusnier, who both impressed when they joined the series late in the season. Herbert Metzker and Christophe Guerrier will be expected to take trophies this year and we've a number of dark horses coming in during the season, with Thierry Hedoin and Rémi Pochauvin both joining Cup Europe on home soil at Dijon for the first time.

New for 2011 is the Evora class, with GT4-spec racers entered for Gregory Rasse and Thierry Verheist and the former will certainly be looking to build upon the sort of performances that earned him that driver of the season accolade in 2010.

The Open Class includes a Europa for French-based driver Campbell Cassidy, whilst experienced racers David and Rob Fenn can be expected to challenge for outright honours in their beautifully prepared Motorsport Elise.

Finally, the production class will be wide open this year with Jose Vaslin expected to improve upon a hugely impressive opening season. Nigel Ayres will be aiming to provide the main challenge whilst Stephane Merlet, Jan Christe and Alan Adoud add welcome variety to a class which is starting to take off outside the UK with cars available from just 11,000 Euros it's an ideal entry level into racing. The class will also see guest appearances during the season from Ex-Lotus F1 driver and Group Lotus Ambassador Martin Donnelly, who will also be on hand at most weekends giving free coaching to drivers out racing for the first time.

It all adds to a record grid for an exciting opening Lotus Cup Europe round. We hope to welcome many spectators and hope that you can join us for a Lotus drivers and fans barbeque on Saturday evening at the circuit.