Ultimate Cup Series: The Different Categories (2024)

In the small world of motorsports, the Ultimate Cup Series championship stands out for its quality organization, diversity, and level of competition. With several categories, ranging from prototypes to GT and single-seaters, this series attracts both amateur and professional drivers.

Each year, the series evolves, offering new challenges and opportunities. But what are the categories and novelties for 2024?

Dive into the behind-the-scenes of this competition to uncover everything the 2024 season has in store for you. Want to know all about the Ultimate Cup Series? Keep reading! 😉

🆕 Don’t miss our latest article: "Ultimate Cup Series: 2025 Calendar and Updates" 🆕

Quick Introduction to the Ultimate Cup Series (UCS)

The Ultimate Cup Series, launched in 2019 by Vincent Vigier with the support of Robert Peyrano, is a European championship that skillfully combines endurance and sprint events, attracting a wide range of competitors, from gentlemen drivers to professional racers.

With events on legendary circuits, the series offers a mix of cars from renowned brands in the GT, Single-seater, Proto P3, and CN categories, bringing together around 200 vehicles per event. The championship has quickly established itself as a reference thanks to its diversity, visibility, and ability to offer a springboard to international championships such as the ELMS or the WEC.

The championship has already hosted many renowned drivers such as Sébastien Loeb, Nicolas Prost, David Hallyday, Inès Taittinger, Arnaud Tsamère, Stéphane Ortelli, Emmanuel Collard, Carmen Jorda, and many others.

In terms of visibility, the main highlight of the championship is the live broadcast of the races on the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ultimatecuptv 📺

Ultimate Cup Series: Categories for 2024

European Endurance Prototype Cup

The LMP3 category, launched in 2015 by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), serves as a springboard in the world of endurance racing, combining reliability, performance, and innovation. It aims to train drivers and teams for major motorsport challenges. In 2022, the Ultimate Cup Series welcomed the Nova Proto NP02, a model powered by a 400-horsepower Ford V8 engine weighing 765 kg, aiming to revitalize interest in sports prototypes. CN/EVO prototypes, with their naturally aspirated or turbocharged engines, provide essential training before moving on to renowned endurance competitions. P4 prototypes may also be accepted.

Manufacturers such as Ligier, Norma, Nova Proto, Wolf, Ginetta, and Duqueine are featured here. As it is an endurance format, teams consist of 2 to 3 drivers.

The race weekend format is as follows:

• Private Testing: 2 x 90 minutes (depending on track time allocated by the circuit)
• Qualifying: 3 x 15 minutes
• Races: 5 races of 4 hours + 1 race of 6 hours

2023 Standings / Endurance Prototype Challenge

Team Ranking

• TEAM VIRAGE
• ANS MOTORSPORT
• DB AUTOSPORT

LMP3 Ranking

• KING George (TEAM VIRAGE)
• ESPIRITO SANTO Manuel (TEAM VIRAGE)
• SIMMONS Ayrton (TS CORSE)

LMP3 (Ultimate) Ranking

• BÖHM Martin and FOJTIK Andreas (MG SOUND STUDIO)
• ROSATI Rodolphe and ROSATI Claude (ZOSH COMPETITION)
• KOLOVOS Georgios, KAITATZIS Panagiotis, and ROSSI Louis (GRAFF RACING)

NP02 Ranking

• MAULINI Nicolas and WOLFF Jacques (RACING SPIRIT OF LEMAN)
• DE SYBOURG Grégory and GAILLARD Karen (DIMAB MOTORSPORT BY ANS)
• CROULLET Frédéric (ANS MOTORSPORT)

NP02 (Ultimate) Ranking

• FAGGIONATO Marc and MONDOLOT Philippe (ANS MOTORSPORT)
• CAILLON Denis, MORALES Sébastien, and THIRION Philippe (COGEMO)
• LACOSTE Antoine (COGEMO)

CN Ranking

• CLAVADETSCHER Sacha (ANS MOTORSPORT)
• SEGRET Iko (ANS MOTORSPORT)
• MICHY Philibert (ANS MOTORSPORT)

Ultimate GT Endurance Cup

The ULTIMATE GT ENDURANCE CUP brings together competitive vehicles inspired by production models. With 4-hour events, these races feature teams of up to three drivers, from knowledgeable amateurs to professionals. The competitions, which can take place during the day or at night, offer intense and exciting confrontations.

Numerous manufacturers are featured, such as Ferrari, BMW, Mitjet, Opel, Aston Martin, Bentley, Chevrolet, Ford, Vortex, Porsche, Mercedes, Lamborghini, Ligier, Alpine, Renault, Ginetta, and Audi. As it is also an endurance format, teams consist of 2 to 3 drivers.

The race weekend format is as follows:

• Private Testing: 2 x 90 minutes
• Qualifying: 3 x 15 minutes
• Race: 1 race of 6 hours + 5 races of 4 hours

2023 Standings / Endurance GT Touring Challenge By Kennol

Team Ranking

• MARTINET BY ALMERAS
• VISIOM
• L'ESPACE BIENVENUE

UGT3A Ranking

• BOUVET Jean Bernard, PAGNY Jean Paul, and HALLYDAY David (VISIOM)
• COCHET Jonathan and KIRCHDOERFFER Rémy (AB SPORT AUTO)
• DEZOTEUX Franck, DEZOTEUX Henri, and DEZOTEUX Simon (AF CORSE)

UGT3B Ranking

• MOIOLA Miguel (VORTEX)
• PADOVANI Lorina (VORTEX)
• MARCHIX Roland (XP RACING)

PORSCHE CUP Ranking

• DORCHY Joffrey and MARTINS Mathieu (MARTINET BY ALMERAS)
• FROMENT Julien (MARTINET BY ALMERAS)
• WALTER Lucas (SEB LAJOUX RACING)

UGTC4A Ranking

• WASZCZINSKI Daniel (L'ESPACE BIENVENUE)
• REGO DE SEBES Régis (L'ESPACE BIENVENUE)
• LESSENNES Benjamin (L'ESPACE BIENVENUE)

UGTC4B Ranking

• LEMOINE Julien (ANS MOTORSPORT)
• BOUNIE Julien, MARION Benoit, and MARTINEZ Olivier (CHAZEL TECHNOLOGIE)
• SCHATZ Nicolas (ANS MOTORSPORT)

Ultimate GT Sprint Cup

The ULTIMATE GT SPRINT CUP offers a dynamic format where teams of one to two drivers compete in GT cars inspired by production models in 4 sprint races of 25 minutes each.

The same manufacturers as in the endurance format are featured (see above). In a sprint format, the driver is alone in the race, but the seat can be shared between two drivers over the weekend to reduce costs (each driver therefore has 1 practice session, 1 qualifying, and 2 races).

The race weekend format is as follows:

• Private Testing: 2 x 35 minutes
• Qualifying: 2 x 15 minutes
• Races: 4 x 25 minutes

2023 Standings / Sprint GT-Touring Challenge

Team Ranking

• SR&R
• ROSEL RACING BY L'ESPACE BIENVENUE
• CMR

UGT3A Ranking

• MOUEZ Eric (CMR)
• THYBAUD Franck (AB SPORT AUTO)
• BACHELIER Jean-Marc (CMR)

UGT3A2 Ranking

• HERNANDEZ Alfredo (BDR COMPETITION GRUPO PROM)
• BONDUEL Amaury (BDR COMPETITION GRUPO PROM)
• DOMS Serge (BDR COMPETITION GRUPO PROM)

UGT3B Ranking

• ATZORI Francesco (SR&R)
• BARBOLINI Edoardo (SR&R)
• COSSU Lorenzo (SR&R)

PORSCHE CUP Ranking

• FALIGAND Jérémy (SEB LAJOUX RACING)
• MAINGUY Maxime (BREIZH MOTORSPORT)
• LAJOUX Sébastien (SEB LAJOUX RACING)

UGTC4A Ranking

• LAUNIER Grégory (ROSEL RACING BY L'ESPACE BIENVENUE)
• ARRAOU Pierre (MILAN COMPETITION)
• GOUJAT Julien (SPEEDCAR)

UGTC4B Ranking

• DENIS François (SPEEDCAR)
• NAUGES Serge (SPEEDCAR)
• FAURE Gérard (CD SPORT)

Ultimate Formula Cup

The ULTIMATE FORMULA CUP attracts many young talents and amateur drivers. They prepare for the heights of motorsport by driving Formula Renault 2.0 or Regional Formula 3 cars. This category is a recognized springboard to higher levels, such as Formula 1. The Ultimate Cup Series also stands out for its support for innovation, notably with the introduction of MICHELIN 17-inch tires in F3R, while promoting Formula Renault 2.0.

Manufacturers such as Tatuus or Mygale are featured.

The race weekend format is as follows:

• Private Testing: 2 x 30 minutes
• Qualifying: 1 x 20 minutes
• Races: 3 x 20 minutes

2023 Standings / Single-seater Challenge

F3R Ranking

• TROJANI Pau (GRAFF RACING)
• LE GALLAIS Gaspard (CMR)
• RYKART Walter (FORMULA MOTORSPORT)

F3R (Ultimate) Ranking

• RYKART Walter (FORMULA MOTORSPORT)
• BOILLOT Frédéric (RACE MOTORSPORT)
• CREED Erwin (FORMULA MOTORSPORT)

FR 2.0 Ranking

• ROUPNEL Jordan (CMR)
• DEPIERRE Gilles (REVER'TEAM)

The 2024 Ultimate Cup Series Calendar

The 2024 version of the Ultimate Cup Series offers a five-star calendar with three French events and three international events.

Here is the complete schedule:

• R1 - LE CASTELLET (FRANCE) / PAUL RICARD CIRCUIT / 15 - 17 MARCH
• R2 - PORTIMÃO (PORTUGAL) / AUTODROMO INTERNACIONAL DO ALGARVE / 24 - 26 MAY
• R3 - HOCKENHEIM (GERMANY) / HOCKENHEIMRING / 05 - 07 JULY
• R4 - MUGELLO (ITALY) / AUTODROMO INTERNAZIONALE DEL MUGELLO / 06 - 08 SEPTEMBER
• R5 - MAGNY-COURS (FRANCE) / NEVERS MAGNY-COURS CIRCUIT / 11 - 13 OCTOBER
• R6 - LE CASTELLET (FRANCE) / PAUL RICARD CIRCUIT / 08 - 10 NOVEMBER

What’s New for 2024?

The category names have been adjusted for better understanding.

In the GT categories, the names will now be presented as follows: UGT2, UGT3, UGTX, UGT4, UGTlight, and PC for simplified and more direct identification.

The Ultimate Cup AMR Trophy, in collaboration with Aston Martin, introduces a special category in the GT Sprint Cup for competitors in Aston Martin Vantage GT4, with exclusive classification. The top three in the challenge will receive a reward from the European Ultimate Cup series, which can reach up to 53,000 euros.

Introduction of the Cavallino Tridente Cup: a category reserved for Ferraris and Maseratis in the Ultimate GT Sprint Cup.

The Ultimate Cup series introduces changes in tire selection. For the first time since 2019, Michelin will no longer be the sole tire supplier. Goodyear will now equip the GT cars in the Sprint and Endurance categories, as well as the single-seaters with 13-inch tires. Michelin will continue to equip the prototypes and single-seaters, but with 17-inch tires.

The Formula Cup introduces a new Rookie category, with the winner getting a chance to participate in the FRECA Rookie Test at ART Grand Prix or register in the category of their choice in 2025.

The Peugeot 208 Racing Cup and 208 Relais cups will now be organized by the Trophée Tourisme Endurance (TTE).

Introduction of a new specific category for Ginetta G56 GTA in endurance named “Ultimate Ginetta GTA Endurance”.

How to Find a Seat and Race in the Ultimate Cup Series?

Do you want to race in one of these categories? You will need at least an International C grade license. Feel free to check the listings on our website, as many teams offer seats for rent for a weekend or a full season.

In 2024, the Ultimate Cup Series introduces exciting new features: new category names, an exclusive partnership with Aston Martin for the GT Sprint Cup, and the arrival of Goodyear as the tire supplier for certain categories. With live coverage on YouTube, it is the perfect opportunity to experience a unique motorsport event. The organizer also occasionally offers team deals on its website or social media. I hope this article has helped you discover the Ultimate Cup Series.

Official championship website : https://ultimatecupseries.eu/