The 2024 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will culminate with the EuroNASCAR Finals at Circuit Zolder on October 12-13. Since 2015, the NASCAR GP Belgium in the woods of Limburg has been a guarantee for spectacular racing and close door-to-door battles. In four double-point playoff races, the EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR 2 titles will be awarded to the best drivers in Europe’s official NASCAR championship. Fasten your seatbelts and join the action at one of the Old Continent’s most iconic race tracks.
Tens of thousands of fans will be at Circuit Zolder to get up close and personal with the title contenders in the open paddock, on the grid, during garage walks and on the unique rollercoaster track near Hasselt. With numerous supporting series on the circuit, such as the Belcar Series and the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, the promoter promises fans a fantastic programme, highlighted by a Ford Mustang show and a NASCAR parade on public roads into the centre of Zolder on Thursday.
EuroNASCAR PRO: Ghirelli versus Ercoli
They may be from the same country, but they’re not best friends: championship leader Vittorio Ghirelli and reigning champion Gianmarco Ercoli will contest the next round of their rivalry in Belgium. The two clashed at Venray and had a heated discussion in front of the fans after the race. After “Gimmy” Ercoli’s first win of the season at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, the CAAL Racing driver is only 23 points behind the PK Carsport ace. While Ercoli won the title in the last second at the Circuit Zolder in 2023, Ghirelli has open business with the legendary track in Belgium, as his title hopes were crushed last year due to technical problems with his car.
But there are other riders eager to join the title chase. After winning in Germany, RDV Competition’s Paul Jouffreau is third in the standings, just one point behind Ercoli and 24 points behind Ghirelli. The Frenchman wasn’t happy with Ghirelli’s driving style at Oschersleben and promised the fans that he would fight as hard as he could to beat the Fasano native. The Frenchman has also had his moments with Ghirelli in the 2024 season and another intense rivalry has developed, making the title battle a must-see. Liam Hezemans follows in fourth place, four points behind Jouffreau. The Dutchman wants to win the overall championship, but also bring the Junior Trophy title to Hendriks Motorsport. To achieve the latter goal, Hezemans has to beat Jouffreau.
In the Challenger Trophy, Thomas Toffel has the advantage over Max Lanza and Dario Caso. 13 points ahead of his closest rival, the Swiss set his sails to finish within the EuroNASCAR PRO top-10 and take the win in the special class for elite amateurs in Europe’s premier NASCAR division. The Race Art Technology driver scored his first EuroNASCAR PRO podium in Germany and is looking to build on the momentum he gained in the 2024 playoffs.
EuroNASCAR 2: Martin Doubek looks to make history
No driver has ever won the EuroNASCAR 2 championship twice, but that could change on October 13. Martin Doubek is the dominant force in the division and is looking to claim the crown for the second time in his career, having already won the championship in 2021. The Hendriks Motorsport driver from the Czech Republic enters the EuroNASCAR Finals with a 33-point lead over Patrick Schober and is in control of the title battle. However, Doubek must avoid any mistakes and chaos at the Circuit Zolder to secure another EuroNASCAR 2 championship win.
A single mistake can change the whole outcome of the season and Schober is waiting in the shadows to attack and take advantage of any mishap to overtake Doubek in the overall standings and bring the title home to Austria. The RDV Competition driver gained momentum in the second half of the season with race wins at Autodrom Most and Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. Third is Gil Linster, 51 points behind Doubek, and the Luxembourger still believes in his chances to beat his Hendriks Motorsport teammate.
How would you describe the 2024 Rookie Trophy? Wild, crazy, exciting and unpredictable. Julien Rehberg dominated the first half of the season, but a crash at Autodrom Most and technical problems put a spoke in his wheel. The German is only fifth in the championship, 41 points behind Florian Richard. Richard and Speedhouse improved from race to race and impressed with their consistency. As a result, the Frenchman leads the special classification going into the last two races of the year. Richard leads a charging Victor Neumann by just eight points, with Mario Ercoli and Dominique Schaak rounding out the top-4. The main contenders for the Legend Trophy are Melvin de Groot and Claudio Cappelli, separated by just 31 points. Arianna Casoli will beat Luli Del Castello for her fifth Lady Trophy title.
Club Challenge and Endurance Team Championships
The overall victory in the Club Challenge will be decided already on Thursday, when the champion will be crowned during the parade in the center of Most. Team Bleekemolen’s Reza Sardeha leads the standings by 18 points ahead of Academy / Caffi Motorsport co-owner Federico Monti. Andreas Kuchelbacher, Eduard Fatio and reigning champion Gordon Barnes complete the top-5. With double points on the line, there are still plenty of points to be scored and the top-5 drivers still have a chance of taking the crown.
In the Endurance Teams Championship it’s a close battle between two powerhouses of Europe’s official NASCAR series: RDV Competition’s #3 crew leads the standings by four points over the #50 Hendriks Motorsport squad. Marko Stipp Motorsport’s #46 Chevrolet follows in third, just 25 points behind the leading team. Speedhouse’s #14 and Team Bleekemolen’s #72 crews round out the top-5, and with all of them separated by just 33 points, consistency will be key to storming to the top of the Endurance Teams Championship, which was introduced with a brand new time and lap-based format for the 2024 season.
EuroNASCAR PRO
Anthony Kumpen is back – The two-time EuroNASCAR PRO Champion will make his comeback aboard the #66 PK Carsport Chevrolet Camaro to compete in his home race.
Kenko Miura returns – The Japanese’s part-time schedule culminates with another double-duty start at Circuit Zolder in the #74 Toyota Camry.
Frederic Gabillon to test new car – Entered as the EuroNASCAR Test Team, the #25 Chevrolet will feature developments for the 2025 EuroNASCAR season.
EuroNASCAR 2
Andres Beers makes his debut – The Belgian DRP driver will join the field and experience the EuroNASCAR car as a non-championship driver for the first time in his life.
Julien Rehberg to do double duty – To maximize his track time and chances in the EuroNASCAR 2 Rookie Trophy, the German will again race in both divisions at Zolder.
Arthur Roche joins Gabillon – The Frenchman will take his first steps in EuroNASCAR 2 alongside NWES legend Gabillon and test new technical features.
NWES PR
