The 2026 Lotus Cup China, featuring the Lotus Emira, is an official one-make racing series running 5 rounds from April to December 2026. The season opener launched in early April 2026 at Sepang International Circuit. Key upcoming events in China include Shanghai (May), Ningbo (June), Wuhan (Oct), and Zhuhai (Dec). The LOTUS CUP CHINA, a single-brand race of Lotus, is hosted by Lotus sports cars and Mintimes Group, co-organized by Chengdu Tianfu International Circuit, Ningbo International Circuit and Wuhan International Circuit, and exclusively operated by Beijing Mintimes Sports Industry Investment Company.
The competition uniformly adopts LOTUS CUP EMIRA racing cars. Under a fair racing system, the event will present a pure competition of driving skills and fully display the charm of racing.
The LOTUS CUP CHINA single-brand race will reflect the passion and vitality of motorsport with an innovative operation concept. Relying on diversified events, the participation of star drivers and multiple racing activities, it will create a new entertainment event and inject new vitality into the Chinese racing industry.
2026 Lotus Cup China Schedule (Confirmed Venues)
- April 2026: Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia) – Season Opener
- 8 – 10 May 2026: Shanghai International Circuit
- 26 – 28 June 2026: Ningbo International Circuit
- 9 – 11 October 2026: Wuhan International Circuit
- 18 – 20 December 2026: Zhuhai International Circuit [1, 2, 3, 4]
photos album link : https://m.alltuu.com/album/14ae8c8ea8e5d1f0ee3088e77a7d5ccc/?menu=live
photos below by photographer: Aqil Yusof
Results: Race 1 P5 overall , P3 in SD category
Results: Race 2 P4 overall , P2 in SD category
Against the shimmering heat haze of the Sepang International Circuit, the 2026 Lotus Cup China wasn’t just a race for Leona Chin—it was a high-stakes battle against physics, finance, and failing machinery.
Against the Odds: The Steel and Spirit of Sepang
The roar of the Lotus Emira engines is a sound of pure power, but for Leona, sitting on the grid for Race 1, that roar was shadowed by a deafening silence in the budget. In a sport where “fresh rubber” is the currency of champions, Leona was playing with a hand already dealt. While the front-runners sat on pristine, sticky sets of new tires, her Emira was shod with rubber that had already seen the wars.
The budget was tight. The tires were tired. And then, the brakes began to scream.
The First Hurdle: A Heart-Stopping Deficit
As the lights went out for Race 1, the nightmare scenario unfolded. Entering the heavy braking zones—where the heat hits like a furnace—the pedal didn’t firm up. A mechanical gremlin had compromised the braking system. Every corner became a gamble: Will it stop? Or will the gravel trap be the end of the weekend?
Fighting the car through every one of the 23 grueling laps – close to an hour race with 1 mandatory pitstop, Leona didn’t just survive; she hunted. With no fresh grip to rely on and a braking system that felt like stepping on a sponge, she willed the car across the line.
- The Result: A hard-fought P3 podium in the SD category. A miracle in metal.
- The Resurrection: Finding the Limit
Race 2 was the ultimate test of grit. The brake issues were managed but not forgotten,
But Leona Chin doesn’t drive with just her hands; she drives with her soul. In a masterclass of defensive lines and surgical overtaking, she sliced through the field. While others relied on the mechanical advantage of fresh equipment, Leona relied on a decade of professional instinct.
As the checkered flag waved, she hadn’t just held her ground—she had gained it.
- The Final Stand: P4 Overall and a stunning P2 in the SD Category.
The Takeaway: Grit Over Gold
Two races. Two podiums. One car that tried its best to quit, and one driver who refused to let it.
In the world of motorsports, money buys you tires and parts. But it doesn’t buy the heart required to stare down a technical failure at 200km/h and find the podium anyway. Leona Chin proved at Sepang that while her competitors might have had the fresher tires, she had the fire.
The trophies are coming home. The story is just beginning.
Leona is on the hunt for sponsors for the Lotus Cup China! Reach out to her for collaboration opportunities in the China region as she continues her championship journey.