Written by Vyas Ponnuri
We will once again witness a single-make racing series play support to Formula E on select race weekends, as the 'NXT Gen Cup' will supplement four Formula E race weekends, and two DTM race weekends in 2024.
Dubbed the 'NXT Gen Cup', the single-make racing series will feature 20 young drivers aged between 15 to 25, taking their first steps into motor racing. The goal of the series is to educate them, and help them build valuable skills to forge a career as a motorsport racer.
The beast chosen for the series is an all-electric car built and developed by the Lestrup Racing Team (LRT), the LRT NXT1, a 1150 kg, 180 BHP front-wheel drive machine, effectively based off a Mini Cooper SE road car. The car also features a 30 kWh battery, along with an 800 Volt system. All 20 drivers partaking in the series will receive equal machinery.
Along with these, drivers will have access to an additional boost of 60 BHP, available in the form of a push-to-pass feature, a common trait of the popular IndyCar series. This feature will aid overtaking across the six races in the season.
The LRT NXT1 will also be fitted with all-weather Hankook tyres, a feature of today's Gen3 Formula E cars. Charging infrastructure will be managed by ABB E-Mobility, the series' official charging partners. In addition, the cars will be able to recover energy under braking, and come with Ӧhlins shock absorbers.
While the series is still subject to FIA approval, it is expected to kick off during the inaugural Misano E Prix, on 13th and 14th April, 2024, acting as a support series to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. It will run alongside the all-electric single-seater racing series during the subsequent Monaco and Berlin E Prix weekends respectively.
The series will also run alongside the Norisring round of the DTM calendar in early July, before making an appearance at the Formula E season finale in London, later that month. The final round of the series will take place in the iconic backdrop of the Hockenheimring in October, once again alongside a season-finale, this time for the DTM series.
The Swedish-born racing series will feature two practice sessions of 20 minutes each for all but one event, the Monaco E Prix being the only exception, featuring only one practice session lasting 20 minutes. In addition, the series will feature both male and female drivers, and most drivers taking part in the series are aged below 17.
The grid for the sophomore season of the series will be announced in due course.
The Last Time a support series raced alongside Formula E
Way back in season six, the COVID-shortened 2019-20 Formula E season, the Jaguar I-Pace etrophy supplemented the Formula E season.
Having run for two seasons, the one-make series disbanded in 2020, in light of the economic fallout caused by the impending coronavirus pandemic.
Simon Evans, brother of Jaguar Formula E racer Mitch, took the spoils in the final season of the single-make series, claiming the title in the Pro class by one point, ahead of Brazilian racer Sergio Jiminez. Saudi Arabian racer Fahad Algosaibi claimed honours in the Pro Am class, dominating on his way to the top spot.
What they said
Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer of Formula E, said:
“We are delighted to welcome the NXT Gen Cup after their hugely successful debut last year. The addition of an all-electric junior category to the European part of our calendar will further contribute to the essential nurturing of young talent, a key part to our sport and give them the opportunity to race on the same stage as our world-class drivers and teams.”
Fredrik Lestrup, series founder of NXT Gen Cup, was delighted to have the series up and running, less than two years since he envisioned it, saying:
"For NXT Gen Cup to go from an idea on paper less than two years ago to racing together with the ABB FIA Formula E and DTM this year is mind-boggling and an inspiring proof on the hard work by everyone involved.
“We have together with Formula E and DTM created a spectacular calendar which will provide our junior drivers with a robust foundation to start their racing careers and show their talents to some of the best teams and partners in the world. I want to extend a huge thanks to everyone who has made this possible and we are thoroughly motivated to start our most exciting season so far!”
Calendar for the 2024 NXT Gen Cup
Here's the schedule for the upcoming series, set to kick off in April, around the World Circuit at Misano, subject to FIA approval:
13-14 April - Misano - Italy – supporting the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
27 April - Monaco - supporting the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
11-12 May - Berlin - Germany - supporting the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
05–07 July - Norisring - Germany - Supporting DTM
20-21 July - London - Great Britain - Supporting the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
18-20 October - Hockenheim - Germany - Supporting DTM
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