The Ariel Atom Cup is a single-model racing series, which is set to commence its first season throughout the whole of this year. As the name suggests, it will be an Ariel Atom-only series, and will feature identical specially modified cars, upgraded to race-spec.
According to a provisional calendar shown on the series’ official site, the first race of the season is set to take place on April 27 and 28, around the Silverstone Grand Prix track, with races at Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton, Cadwell Park and Donington set to follow later in the year.
To promote the new series, the organizers have put up a short video of a race-prepped Atom, which undergoes a tire change in central London, while waiting at a set of traffic lights at the Oxford Circus intersection. Once the wheels on all four corners are changed and the light turns green, the car is on its way.
The modified Atoms will feature different bodywork than their road-going counterparts, as well as a roll cage, adjustable Ohlins dampers and sticky Yokohama racing tires.
We say the Ariel Atom Cup will gather a large fan base, simply because it is currently the closest thing to racing in the old days, before cars became overburdened with technology. Spectators will be able to see the drivers heel and toe, shift the gears, turn the wheel and get bounced around in the event of a crash – should prove quite entertaining to watch once underway.
By Andrei Nedelea
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