The EV Cup, the world's first electric car track racing series - set to revolutionise the future of global motor sport - will be officially launched today (13 January) at the Autosport International Racing Car Show at the Birmingham NEC.
The ground-breaking 'green' series has seven race days already scheduled in the UK, Spain, Portugal and the USA. Further venues are being targeted for the future, including potential street tracks.
The racing will include two principal one-make classes of zero emission electric cars: the celebrity-supported City EV cars, where drivers will compete in carbon-free, race-prepared urban THINK hatchback cars; and the Sports EV class, which will feature 120mph Westfield iRacers.
A third category will be the Prototype EV class, based upon time trials and showcasing the latest, ultra-fast, non-production electric race cars, some with potential top speeds of 150mph and more.
Negotiations are well-advanced with prime UK race circuits to host the EV Cup this year, with the first race planned for the summer. The series organisers are working with MotorSport Vision Racing in setting-up and organising the events.
Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director of EV Cup, said: "The electric car is already changing the world and it will soon begin to revolutionise the face of traditional motorsport across the world, by embracing the issues of the day, from straightforward zero emissions to eco-friendly cars, sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
"We believe that the commercial world will sit up and take notice when they begin to recognise a new opportunity to partner with a new and exciting sporting event like the EV Cup, which is cost-effective and adds significantly to their sustainability credentials.
"We are creating an opportunity for the EV manufacturers and suppliers to promote their technologies in a new and exciting way. Green motor sport is a reality."
The launch of the EV Cup at Autosport Show also marks the beginning of a significant new relationship with the sports division of the top Los Angeles-based agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which represents more than 500 high-profile athletes, as well as a galaxy of Hollywood superstars, including Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock. CAA has made a substantial investment in the new race series.
CAA Sports' Peter Kenyon, who negotiated the partnership, said: "This is a ground-breaking and exciting opportunity, which is not the traditional territory of CAA, but a brand and a concept which we firmly believe will become a global phenomenon in the next two or three years. We want to be right there on the starting grid from day one.
"We can offer significant support across various areas but specifically expertise in sponsorship for the cars and the teams. We have access to major brands all over the world. We are very confident that the EV Cup will strike a chord with some of the biggest companies in the world which have concerns about their carbon footprint or their corporate and social responsibility programme and they will be keen to support these races, so that in a very short time we can establish a global calendar of events."
EV Cup Race Director Grahame Butterworth has more than 30 years experience in motorsport and fully understands the challenges it will bring in terms of organisation and control. He says: "The driving sensation is different to a traditional race car, but I have no doubt that the racing will be very close. Our main hurdle now is to finalise the detailed safety requirements to ensure that everyone is well insulated from the power source and to set out the technical criteria to ensure a level playing field."
The actual races will last about 20-30 minutes. Race day will include traditional qualifying and the batteries of cars will then be recharged at pit garage charging facilities. The cars will be available to buy or be available for rental drives organized through EV Cup.
Celebrities who have publicly supported previous EV Cup promotional events include former racing driver Sir Stirling Moss; Grand Designs presenter, environmental campaigner and design guru Kevin McCloud; TV presenter Quentin Willson; the founder of Mulberry and historic racer Roger Saul; and Ben Collins, who appeared in TV's Top Gear as The Stig.Collins, who will attend today's launch, said: "Electric Vehicles represent a new dawn in motoring by running on clean energy that can be sourced as locally as organic sausages. It's surprising that mankind has taken so long to embrace the technology.
"Motorsport still offers the purest research and development platform to deliver the true potential of electric power and dynamic energy recovery; perhaps to a level which will shame the carbon combustion engine the way rubber tyres did the wooden cartwheel.
"EV is developing fast and the current crop of road cars are superb to drive. With a dedicated racing series which encompasses both road and racecar development, the next steps will be more like a quantum leap."
