The Elise Trophy was the first series to be launched in conjunction with MotorSport Vision Racing, and its inaugural race took place at Brands Hatch on Saturday 24th March 2007. The Elise Trophy was awarded championship status at the end of the 2013 season.

During its early years the Elise Trophy was arguably the highest profile club race series in the UK with it supporting numerous top class events including DTM, World Touring Cars and A1GP, while the championship's own annual event ‘The Lotus Festival’ was even supported by the Formula 1 team of the day with Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli both driving classic Lotus F1 cars. Other guest drivers have included the world's fastest man – Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, BBC1 F1 Presenter Jack Humphreys and ex-F1 Lotus racer Martin Donnelly who returned to a Lotus race car in the Elise Trophy back in 2007 and has competed in numerous races since. Even MSVR's very own Motorsport Events Manager David Willey has featured on the podium!

The Elise Trophy grew from Lotus on Track, the UK's largest track day club. The Lotus on Track Racing Drivers Club (LoTRDC) was formed to create a race series for Lotus Elise owners, and aims to carry the track day principles to the starting grid. LoTRDC now runs the FIA International Series – Lotus Cup Europe & the grass routes sprinting championship Lotus Cup UK Speed Championship.

From the 2019 season MotorSport Vision Racing will run the MSVR Elise Trophy promising to provide a safe, friendly, fair and financially viable series for those wishing to progress from track days into racing. For 2020 it has been confirmed that Road Race Rally Engineering will continue as be the official power testers, and the Avon ZZR will yet again be the control tyre - as they both are with Lotus Cup Europe.

For 2020 there will be a slight change in race format. Five of the seven rounds will continue with 2 x 20 minute races while the remaining two rounds will see a single 45 minute race with a pit stop. Each round will be held over a single day.

MotorSport Vision Racing (MSVR) is the race and event organising division of the MSV Group, which also owns and operates six of the UK's best motorsport venues - Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Oulton Park, Snetterton, Cadwell Park and Bedford Autodrome. MSVR's two-wheel division also operates the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, the UK's most successful motor racing championship.

MSVR is considered one of the most important and respected racing organisations in the UK. The club prides itself on offering the highest levels of efficiency, value and enjoyment for its competitors.

Find out more about MSVR