The Nissan Micra Cup Is Back for 2017

Canada's strangest looking racing series is back for another season. The Nissan Micra Cup has a six-event season, with two races each event, and it starts May 19th at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Bowmanville, ON.

A series featuring one of the smallest and cheapest new cars in the country seems like a strange idea, but this is the third season for the popular Micra Cup. The cars are surprisingly close to the 2017 Micra you'd find on a Nissan showroom floor. They have 1.6L four-cylinder engines making 109 hp and 107 lb-ft.

But then they receive some upgrades. All cars get the same racing suspension and lots of safety gear, including a roll cage, five-point harness, and fire suppression. Most of the unnecessary bits, like the interior, are discarded to save weight. Our own Jacob Black got to take some laps in one last year and said that the suspension and tires "offer frankly much more grip than this car needs."

The combination of tall car and sticky tires makes for some incredibly dramatic racing to watch, with lots of roll and dive into corners.

This year will see the last two champions, Olivier Bédard and Xavier Coupal, returning for another year. They will compete with drivers from across Canada, and even as far as Australia. Keishi Ayukai is a graduate of the Nissan GT academy and will be furthering his racing career with the Micra Cup.

If you already own a Micra and want to check out the series, Nissan can help you get in for free. They're offering a limited number of free tickets to Micra owners if you register on their site.

2017 Nissan Micra Cup Calendar
May 19 to 21 Victoria Day Weekend SpeedFest, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario
May 26 to 28 Spring Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
July 21 to 23 Summer Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
August 11 to 13 Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, Québec
September 1 to 3 NASCAR Weekend, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario
September 22 to 24 Fall Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec