Lotus Cup Europe is firmly established as one of the continent’s strongest single-marque championships. The FIA International Series attracts competitors from across the continent and supports some of the biggest events in the European motorsport calendar. Safety and technical regulations governed by the FIA and with the championship status being similar to prestigious series such as DTM & GT World Challenge.

For 2022 entries will be split into four classes:

• GT Cup - for the Evora GT4 & Emira GT4
• Exige Cup - for the Exige V6 Cup
• 2-Eleven/Open - for the four-cylinder supercharged open-top 2-Eleven, or four-cylinder Exige Cup cars and other Elise & Exiges that are not eligible for the other categories
• Production - for normally-aspirated Elises - S1 & S2 and the Elise Cup R

Championship points are scored according to class position, this means that drivers from all four classes have an equal chance of competing for the overall title. Current champion Bence Balogh won in his Evora GT4 last year, while runner up Toby Goodman competed in an Elise S2 in the production class.

Lotus Cup Europe enjoys unrivalled support from the Lotus community, with many enthusiasts attending events. The championship is active on social media with well over 60,000 Facebook followers and most rounds being broadcast on TV. Technical support is provided by Group Lotus at all rounds.

Competitors are assured of maximum time on track during events, with race weekends starting with a minimum of two free practice sessions, which are followed by qualifying. There are two or three 25-30 minute races, with both standing and rolling starts employed. For the first time in 2022 a single 50 minute, pit stop race will be trialled at one of the two visits to Spa Francorchamps.

The Lotus Cup Europe calendar features the continent’s finest circuits, with three of 2022’s rounds supporting the prestigious DTM championship at Imola, Nürburgring & Spa Francorchamps. The season commences at La Castellet with the Grand Prix Camions event. It then moves on to Hockenheim for the Hockenheim Historic – Jim Clark Revival. A return to Italy with DTM is next up, Imola making an exciting addition to the calendar. Then the first of two visits to the majestic Spa Francorchamps, the first of which is the mini-endurance event. Nürburgring and Spa Francorchamps feature next, both with DTM before the final rounds take place in France alongside spectacular truck racing, with huge crowds at Le Mans for the famous 24 Heures Camions.

The championship is open to drivers at all levels of experience, provided that they hold an International D licence or higher. Whilst the series has grown hugely since its inception over a decade ago, the emphasis has firmly remained as a fun and social environment in which to compete.