The SpecE46 California Cup was founded in Southern California by series director Peter Oneppo as a way to celebrate and connect the passionate SpecE46 racers across NorCal and SoCal. The inaugural event took place on October 20th, 2019, marking the start of a friendly but fiercely competitive tradition that brings together drivers from across the state and sometimes even across state borders each year.

Since that first race, the California Cup has been held annually, with one exception — 2022, when the NASA National Championships at Laguna Seca made it difficult to schedule two major California events so close together.

The California Cup is a community-run event made possible through the support of local shops, sponsors, vendors, partners, and racers including significant support from Peter and Lauren at Legacy Motorsports, Steve from StepCo Insurance, Bimmerworld, Ryan Lindsley from BimmerSpeed (who crafted the actual trophy), NASA SoCal who has accommodated the California Cup each year at one of their regional events, and many other valued partners who help keep the event running strong.

At its core, the California Cup embodies what SpecE46 is all about: friendly rivalry, shared passion, and a grassroots racing community that continues to grow stronger each year.