After a hot summer break, the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is ready for the 2024 regular season finale at Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic. The fifth event of the year is a key moment for the championship battles in EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR 2, as all drivers will drop their worst points score from the first nine races of the season before entering the double-point playoffs at Oschersleben and Zolder. Vittorio Ghirelli and Martin Doubek are the championship leaders and will try to not only defend their lead, but to extend them in a total of four races at the fabulous 4.212-kilometer Autodrom Most.
EuroNASCAR PRO: Ghirelli and Hezemans separated by seven points
Vittorio Ghirelli has won four of seven races so far aboard his #24 PK Carsport Chevrolet Camaro. The Italian leads the championship by seven points from three-time race winner Liam Hezemans. Hezemans, in his #50 Hendriks Toyota Camry, is looking to dethrone Ghirelli and defend the Junior Trophy he won in 2023. The stage is set for another epic battle for the EuroNASCAR PRO crown.
Gianmarco Ercoli follows in third, just nine points behind Ghirelli. The reigning champion is still looking for his first win of the season, but the CAAL Racing driver has impressed with a consistency that has put him in title contention. A dark horse in the battle for the overall title and the Junior Trophy is Paul Jouffreau. The reigning EuroNASCAR 2 champion enters the regular season finale fourth in the standings and second in the Junior Trophy. He’s only 18 points behind Ghirelli.
Lucas Lasserre rounds out the top-5 in his #33 Speedhouse Ford Mustang. In the 2023 NWES season, the title slipped from his hands at the last minute, but as one of the most experienced drivers on the EuroNASCAR grid, the Frenchman surely knows how to overcome the 33-point deficit to Ghirelli and join the battle for the biggest prize. Tobias Dauenhauer, a two-time winner in 2023, is looking to get back in shape to join the top-3. The German was unlucky with Bremotion in Valencia, but still collected solid results in the first half of the season. Dauenhauer is 40 points behind Ghirelli and right ahead of Ulysse Delsaux.
Thomas Krasonis and Ryan Vargas are tied for eighth and ninth in points and are also tied for third in the Junior Trophy standings. Behind them, Martin Doubek completes the EuroNASCAR PRO top-10. The leader of the Challenger Trophy is Thomas Toffel in twelfth place. The Race Art Technology driver holds a comfortable 23-point lead over Massimiliano Lanza. Dario Caso sits in third in the special classification for elite amateur drivers, nine points behind Lanza. The battle for the championship and the two EuroNASCAR PRO trophies promises to be epic with six more races on the schedule in the 2024 NWES season.
EuroNASCAR 2: Doubek ready for home race
Martin Doubek travels to his home race at the Autodrom Most as the EuroNASCAR 2 championship leader. The Czech has won five races in the 2024 NWES season and holds a 34-point advantage over Hendriks Motorsport teammate Gil Linster, who’s ready to challenge Doubek for the overall championship. Both drivers have plenty of experience under their belts and know the upcoming tracks like the back of their hands. The two collided at Valencia and when the green flag drops they have no friends, even though they are teammates.
Thomas Toffel is third, nine points behind Linster. The former Pocketbike champion has shown a promising pace and made what could arguably be the move of the year at Vallelunga, passing two rivals on the outside of a technical corner. The Swiss pilot could be the dark horse in the title chase as he chases his first EuroNASCAR victory. Patrick Schober, a race winner at Oschersleben in 2023, follows in fourth, three points behind Toffel. The Austrian crashed hard in Italy, but his consistent results have made him a title contender. Schober is level on points with Marko Stipp Motorsport’s Thomas Krasonis, who took his first overall podium at Brands Hatch. Krasonis’ learning curve is steep and with Alon Day as his coach he is putting producing an additional effort to improve his pace.
Jack Davidson became the first Briton to win a EuroNASCAR 2 race and he did it in front of his home fans at Brands Hatch. His Lux Motorsport team has had a strong rookie season with the Scot in sixth place overall. Thomas Dombrowski follows in seventh, just one point behind Davidson, while his team boss Michael Bleekemolen leads the Legend Trophy standings in eighth. The battle for the Rookie Trophy could not be closer: Bremotion’s Julien Rehberg leads Speedhouse’s Florian Richard by just one point. The two strong newcomers round out the top-10 in ninth and tenth.
Melvin de Groot and Claudio Cappelli will challenge Bleekemolen for the Legend Trophy. The Dutch giant and the Italian with the infamous beard are 11th and 12th respectively. De Groot is ten points behind his team boss Bleekemolen, while Cappelli is 15 points behind the class leader. Arianna Casoli leads the Lady Trophy, but the Italian will have competition at the Autodrom Most as 2022 class winner Luli Del Castello returns to EuroNASCAR with CAAL Racing.
Club Challenge and General Information
The Club Challenge drivers have had a long break since Vallleunga, but will be back in action at Autodrom Most. Marko Stipp Motorsport’s Gordon Barnes is chasing his fourth consecutive title and could set a new record. The Brit leads Federico Monti by two points and former champion Andreas Kuchelbacher by four. Edouard Fatio is six points behind Barnes and will also be in the fight. Reza Sardeha and Bruno Costa are still in contention for the overall win in EuroNASCAR’s regularity-based challenge.
EuroNASCAR shares the Autodrom Most with the FIA European Truck Championship to create a unique festival for motorsport fans from all over Europe. A rich program on and off the track will provide plenty of racing and entertainment for the whole family. On Thursday, the EuroNASCAR cars will be driven on public roads to the center of Most for another parade, where the fans will have the opportunity to meet their heroes and the teams. Qualifying and all NWES races will be broadcast live on EuroNASCAR’s YouTube channel and on many TV services around the world.
EuroNASCAR PRO
Liam Lambert returns – After making his EuroNASCAR debut at his home track of Brands Hatch, Liam Lambert returns to the EuroNASCAR PRO grid with Lux Motorsport.
Seven drivers within 50 points – Despite Ghirelli’s dominance, the EuroNASCAR PRO championship could take an unexpected turn with plenty of drivers still in contention.
Hendriks Motorsport on top – The Dutch outfit leads the Teams’ Endurance Championship with its #50 Toyota driven by Hezemans and Linster.
EuroNASCAR 2
Luli del Castello back on the grid – The 2022 Lady Trophy winner will make her EuroNASCAR 2 comeback at Autodrom Most, aiming for a full-time return in 2025.
Marko Stipp Motorsport in the mix – Thomas Krasonis is third in the Teams’ Endurance Championship with Marko Stipp Motorsport. The team has made great strides in the 2024 season.
13 drivers within 100 points – The EuroNASCAR 2 Championship offers a tight battle for the overall title and three different trophies.
NWES PR
