The Lotus Cup China one-make racing sequence arrived in Malaysia on the Petronas Sepang Worldwide Circuit final weekend, when the Sepang 1000KM endurance race was additionally held. For the Sepang spherical of the one-make racing sequence that includes the Lotus Emira, a beginning grid of 11 vehicles took half.
Whereas the Sepang spherical of Lotus Cup China 2025 is positioned because the season finale on this yr’s calendar for the sequence, the Malaysian circuit will develop into the season-opener subsequent when the Lotus Cup China sequence will boast of an prolonged calendar, that includes greater than the 5 rounds of the just-concluded 2025 season. At current, the complete listing of dates and venues for the 2026 season are but to be confirmed.
The operating of Lotus Cup China is to re-assert that motorsport stays very a lot on the coronary heart of Lotus, mentioned
Lotus Automobiles Malaysia government director Mohamed Reza Abdul Mutalib. The Emira is the final remaining internal-combustion-engined, two-door sports activities automotive within the present-day Lotus street automotive line-up, alongside the Eletre and Emeya that are battery-electric automobiles.
The Lotus Emira Cup begins life because the Emira i4 that’s the foundation of the race automotive for the Lotus Cup China one-make sequence, and as its mannequin identify signifies, its powertrain is the M139 2.0 litre turbocharged unit from Mercedes-AMG, and just like the street automotive, the race automotive makes use of an eight-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission sending drive to the rear wheels.
The race automotive will get a unique exhaust system to that of the street automotive however powertrain is in any other case unchanged, in line with a Lotus Cup China consultant. Acceleration on the 0-100 km/h benchmark claimed to be below 4 seconds, and kerb weight is 1,350 kg for the race-prepared Emira Cup.
Chassis tools embody modified AST 5100 coilover models adjustable for journey top in addition to compression and rebound damping, whereas entrance and rear management arms are adjustable models, and are fitted with spherical bearings.
Rolling inventory is a set of 18-inch solid alloy wheels, shod in Vitour Tempesta P1 tyres measuring 255/35ZR18 in entrance and 315/30ZR18 on the rear. Braking {hardware} is by AP Racing, with J-hook discs in entrance and slotted discs on the rear. In response to the Lotus Cup China rep, ABS is carried over from the street automotive, and the setup does with out driver-controllable brake bias adjustment.
As a one-make sequence aimed toward beginner racers and people making their begin in sports activities automotive racing, the Emira Cup is sparing altered from the street automotive, moreover requisite security tools for this racing utility. Security equipment within the Emira Cup consists of an FIA-certified roll cage, racing bucket seat and six-point harness, and a semi-automatic hearth suppression system.
The steering wheel is by AiM, incorporating a knowledge show unit, which is the only real show for the driving force within the Emira Cup. The street automotive’s instrument show, infotainment unit and dashboard which stay bodily current within the race automotive have been disabled, in line with Lotus.
The transmission selector continues to be in place, albeit in a re-fabricated housing as an alternative of the street automotive’s centre console. The radio and datalogger models are situated behind the driving force, on what can be the passenger facet of the automobile.
Along with the 2026 season of Lotus Cup China, the British marque is aiming to enter the Emira Cup in additional race sequence the place the race automotive might be eligible, presumably together with entries within the Thailand Tremendous Sequence (TSS) subsequent yr, mentioned Mohamed Reza.
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