CAAL Racing has extended the contract of Sven van Laere, who will once again compete full-time in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. The Belgian will drive the #54 Chevrolet Camaro and compete for the Legend Trophy title in the 2024 EuroNASCAR 2 championship. After his first full-time season with the Italian powerhouse in 2023, the 51-year-old is eager to take the next step and challenge reigning class champion Melvin de Groot for honors in the Trophy for drivers 40 and older. The Zoersel native praises the pure racing of NASCAR’s official European championship and is aiming for solid results in his second full-time season.
Van Laere already joined the NWES in 2019 with a part-time schedule and then signed a contract with CAAL Racing for 2023. In his first full-time season, the Belgian fought for wins in both the Legend and Rookie Trophy. Finishing eleventh overall and second on the Legend podium at Autodrom Most was the highlight of van Laere’s EuroNASCAR career to date. Backed by one of the most successful teams in NWES history, CAAL Racing, the gentleman driver is chasing his first top-10 results in European NASCAR racing.
“I really enjoyed my first full season in EuroNASCAR and that’s why it was my priority to be back on the grid for the 2024 season,” said the Belgian, who is involved in global car trading and real estate. “After getting used to the car in 2023, my goal is to continue to improve and get some top-10 finishes and podiums in the Legend Trophy. I had my worst and best moment at Circuit Zolder when I had a terrible crash. The support I got from the organization, my team and the other drivers and their teams was amazing. It was proof that EuroNASCAR is a true racing family.”
CAAL Racing is expected to announce van Laere’s teammate in the #54 Chevrolet Camaro soon. It’s the car that was the foundation of Gianmarco Ercoli’s EuroNASCAR PRO championship run in the 2023 season. Van Laere knows the team of Luca and Corrado Canneori like the back of his hand, having worked with the Italian organization in the 2023 season. Both CAAL Racing and the 51-year-old will work hard to improve the pace and results to become a contender for the Legend Trophy.
The 2024 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season kicks off April 13-14 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. Look for van Laere in the #54 CAAL Racing Chevrolet in EuroNASCAR 2 as you watch the races live on the site or for free on the EuroNASCAR YouTube channel or on the channels of NWES’ many television partners around the world.
NWES PR
