New Elise race series launched

Elise racing on track for a great year

By Adam towler / Thursday, 22 March 2007 / Loading comments

A new racing series for Elise owners begins at Brands Hatch this Saturday (24th March) as part of the Lotus Brands Hatch Celebration. The championship is being run in conjunction with MSVR (the racing club division of Motor Sport Vision) and visits a number of classic British circuits over eight rounds, as well as Spa Francorchamps in October.

Any Elise variant allowed

The series aims to provide a friendly, safe and financially viable route for Elise enthusiasts who currently enjoy track days to make the step up into racing. There are four classes, starting at a production-based level and progressing to extensively modified cars with forced induction. Any Elise, Exige, 340R or Vauxhall VX220 is eligible for the series.

For the season opener at Brands, the Lotus factory has endorsed the event and will be bringing a number of cars straight from the stand at the Geneva motor show, including the 2-Eleven circuit car that will turn some demonstration laps. A smattering of historic Lotus F1 will also be present, along with other rare examples of the breed such as a mighty road-going Elise GT1.

Hopefully, without the snow...

Each round will be recorded for Motors TV by Race Television. They’ve shot a short preview film, viewable by clicking on the link below.

With early Elise or atmo VX220s showing up in our classifieds for well under ten grand, and with the championship ethos of clean racing and affordable fun, this looks like a very promising new grass roots series.