Drayson Racing Enters The EVCUP Zero Emission Race Series

Drayson Racing, the green technology race team run by former British Government Minister of Science Lord Paul Drayson, which raced to success in the international Le Mans Series in the USA, Europe and Asia last year, has become the first major team to commit to racing in the new zero-emission EVCUP, the first electric vehicle race series, which launches this summer.

Drayson Racing will enter a race-bred Westfield iRACER in the Sports EV (electric vehicle) series within the EVCUP, with Paul Drayson at the wheel. The race-developed car has peak power of 260bhp, making for a real high-performance EV racer. Lord Drayson's experience as a science entrepreneur, Government Minister, FIA panel member on future energy technologies, MIA Honorary President and successful race driver and team owner make him perfectly placed to work closely with EVCUP, not only in demonstrating the performance of electric vehicles, but progressing the development and growth of zero emission racing.

Speaking at Brands Hatch as he announced his new venture, Lord Drayson said: "Drayson Racing have paved the way in green racing with second-generation biofuels over the past four years and we have been looking at electric vehicle technologies for a while, waiting for the technology to mature and for the right time to enter this exciting new field. The team at EVCUP have taken a bold step forward to create the world's first electric racing series; as one of the world's leading green motorsport teams, we want to be part of it and we want to win it!"

EVCUP Race Director Grahame Butterworth says: "Lord Drayson has the foresight, experience and ability to help drive these cars forward in a realistic but also very exciting way. He will be a great competitor and also a strong voice in developing the next era of high-performance electric race cars. We look forward to working closely with his team."

The EVCUP is the world's first circuit race series exclusively featuring zero-emission electric vehicles. The series gets under way in August, with four events in the UK before heading overseas. MSVR will be the UK organising club for the events, which will feature races for THINK city cars, Westfield iRACER sports cars and a prototype class for any electric car based on a timed laps format.

Lord Drayson, a former science entrepreneur and the UK Minister for Science & Innovation in the previous government, formed Drayson Racing to act as a racing laboratory, pioneering the research and development of green technologies in the challenging environment of motor racing.

Drayson Racing carries out research & development of green racing technologies, including electric vehicles and advanced biofuels. Last year, Drayson Racing came third in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) Championship, racing a unique second-generation bioethanol fuelled LMP1 Lola-Judd racing car and was the first team to achieve pole position and an overall race win.