‘For the young drivers, it’s a modern, good-looking car that everyone knows. And size-wise, it couldn’t be much smaller and still fit the battery in, but it doesn’t need to be any bigger’
Fredrik Lestrup, founder of Lestrup Racing
Formula E last had a support series with the somewhat bizarre Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy. Featuring an arrive-and-drive format, the races had a VIP driver each round and, to be honest, as proficient as the I-Pace is, it was never really cut out for street circuit racing.
Those who were hoping for some old school, door banging, touring car-style action were left wanting. It went the way of the dodo in 2020 and, in the intervening years, FE has been the sole billing at every round.
However, for 2024, the NXT Gen Cup will make an appearance at the four European races on the FE calendar and promises an altogether more engaging prospect. The brainchild of Fredrik Lestrup, founder of Lestrup Racing, the NXT Cup has already run a successful full season through 2023 and is aimed squarely at young drivers looking to step up to TCR-level racing.
Lestrup readily admits he was a late starter in motorsport, but that has not held back his ambition. Racecar decided to find out more.
‘I started [racing] when I managed to find the funding, I started very late,’ says Lestrup. ‘And I did the unique categories all the way up to the highest category in Sweden. I also went to Germany, raced in Australia and raced all around the world, which was my goal.
‘I had a good career. I did what I wanted to do, but never managed to
