World electrical sportscar sequence Elite World Cup announced

The world championship, which was unveiled in Johannesburg on Monday, has been co-founded by three key gamers within the A1 Gigantic Prix World Cup of Motorsport of 2004/05 to 2008/09.

Liu Yu and Tokyo Sexwale, the extinct seat holders of the nationwide A1GP groups from China and South Africa respectively, grasp joined forces with the championship’s fashioned manager after which commercial head right by plot of its construction and first two seasons, Stephen Watson, to connect the Elite World Cup in time for a winter-season campaign in 2024/25.

Their sequence has no reference to the A1GP revival deliberate by the Beginning save Sports actions Neighborhood, which announced in May well perchance moreover goal that it has equipped the rights to the name and is looking for to raise £80 million for a relaunch.

The founders of the Elite World Cup grasp published that they’ve already purchased the finance in field to fetch the sequence off the ground with the manufacture 50 EV racers, which will in all chance be consistent with the 2000bhp Evija hypercar or supersportscar first confirmed in 2019.

They are engaged in closing talks with Lotus Autos and guardian company Geely to finalise an agreement to utilize the Evija, which offered the centrepiece for Monday’s begin in South Africa.

The Elite World Cup is aiming to draw aquire-in from 25 nationwide groups using a a similar franchise model to the long-established A1GP.

Ex-System 3000 racer Watson, who was therefore match director of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, explained that discussions are already underway with ability franchisees.

“Now we grasp shared our tips with some parties and we grasp now solid passion already — we grasp now other folks telling us they are coming in,” he urged Motorsport.com.

Elite World Cup announcement

Characterize by: Elite World Cup

The discover Elite within the name of the sequence refers to the profile of driver it is miles attempting to draw.

“A1GP in a short time became a more or much less junior system, a stepping-stone for young drivers,” talked about Watson. “We desire drivers who grasp flown the flag for his or her nation in System 1, IndyCar, NASCAR or other high-level sequence, in conjunction with the World Rally Championship.

“Each person knows what having a mountainous name representing their country does for a series from A1GP times: when Jos Verstappen was riding for the Dutch team, the dunes at Zandvoort for his house bustle had been a sea of orange.

“That’s the reason we are calling this the Elite World Cup, on myth of we desire potentially the most excellent and absolute most sensible profile drivers imaginable from every country.”

Every nationwide team would require a minimal of two drivers.

Bustle weekends will be made up of a lunge bustle on the Saturday of around 40 minutes, earlier than a mini-endurance bustle of roughly one hour and 20 minutes on Sunday.

Every races will in essence be relays: when one automobile pits this is able to perchance well get replaced heading within the suitable direction by the team’s 2d entry.

There’ll be a minimal of one pitstop within the lunge and three within the predominant bustle, meaning expeditiously-charging will be employed to stock up battery phases.

Elite World Cup announcement

Characterize by: Elite World Cup

So-known as emerging motorsport worldwide locations will finest be required to escape one driver from their grasp country and can signal non-nationals for the opposite seat or seats.

Watson explained that the dedication no longer to grasp a look on the sole-seater route had been taken to give the sequence a extra special selling point.

“I mediate that house is fully captured with the success of F1 and we didn’t desire to plod the route of replicating A1GP with EVs on myth of there is already System E within the market,” he explained.

“An electrical hypercar will resonate more with the actual person on the aspect motorway on myth of it is miles closer to one thing it is likely you’ll perchance well well see on the aspect motorway, and it moreover appealed to our investment community, which is predominantly Chinese.”

The Elite World Cup is focusing on 18 worldwide locations for its debut season of eight bustle weekends starting in September or October subsequent year, with a hoped-for 25 countries competing over 10 occasions in season two.