It’s a wrap! The 2024 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series came to a thrilling conclusion with four dramatic races at Circuit Zolder in Belgium. Tens of thousands of fans were on their feet as the V8 cars thundered around the four-kilometer track and the dramatic action led to emotional celebrations in Victory Lane. Vittorio Ghirelli won the EuroNASCAR PRO title to become the official European NASCAR champion. Martin Doubek made history by taking his second overall win in EuroNASCAR 2. Another unique American festival brought to a close one of the most thrilling, action-packed and exciting seasons in EuroNASCAR history.
Brilliant racing on track and plenty of family attractions off track made the EuroNASCAR Finals at Circuit Zolder a great festival of speed and good times. The packed Grid Walks and Garage Walks gave fans the chance to meet the EuroNASCAR heroes and get up close and personal with the V8 machines that promise close door to door battles at reasonable cost and high speeds. With no electronic aids, around 50 drivers became gladiators in a legendary arena in the middle of the Limburg forest.
EuroNASCAR PRO: Ghirelli the new European NASCAR King
Vittorio Ghirelli traveled to Belgium with a comfortable lead in the overall standings, but with double points on the line, the last two EuroNASCAR PRO play-off races could have changed the whole picture in the title battle. On Saturday, the Fasano native won the race at the wheel of the #24 PK Carsport Chevrolet to consolidate his title ambitions going into the final race of the season. Paul Jouffreau and Gianmarco Ercoli were still in contention, but needed a bit of luck to have a shot at the title on Sunday.
But there’s no EuroNASCAR finale without drama: Ghirelli was hit by Ercoli at the start on Sunday and spun into the gravel. Jouffreau and Ercoli, who had no chance of avoiding the #24 Chevrolet, both saw a chance to win the title at the last minute and fought one of the most intense battles for the win. First Ercoli took the lead from Jouffreau, but the two stayed close together. Jouffreau made the decisive move on the final lap to win the race, but it was not enough for the Frenchman to take the EuroNASCAR PRO title.
Ghirelli rejoined the track after his car got stuck in the gravel. The Safety Car had to be brought out to catch up with the field. Ghirelli had to finish 14th or better to win the championship and he closed the race in tenth place. This was enough to give him an eight-point lead in the final standings over Jouffreau, who won the Junior Trophy for pilots aged 25 and under. Ercoli finished the season in third place overall. Liam Hezemans, runner-up in the Junior Trophy, and Marc Goossens completed the top 5 in the 2024 season. Dario Caso won the Challenger Trophy in a dramatic battle from Thomas Toffel and Max Lanza, all three competitors were separated by just three points.
Ghirelli set an astonishing record in 2024: The Italian collected all seven Pole Position Awards with PK Carsport. Seven wins in 14 races rounded out a near-perfect season for EuroNASCAR’s iceman at the wheel of the #24 Chevrolet.
EuroNASCAR 2: Doubek makes history
Martin Doubek added another chapter to the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series history books by becoming the first two-time champion in EuroNASCAR 2. The Czech started the weekend on the wrong foot when brake problems in Free Practice cost him valuable track time. With a comfortable lead, the Hendriks Motorsport driver did what he had to do to clinch the title and become the 2024 EuroNASCAR 2 Champion. A second place on Saturday and a sixth on Sunday was enough to clinch the title in the #7 Ford Mustang.
Man of the weekend was Claudio Remigio Cappelli. The Italian scored two race wins to sweep the EuroNASCAR Finals at the Circuit of Zolder, making it three race wins in the Playoffs and claiming the Legend Trophy. The Academy / Caffi Motorsport driver defeated Melvin de Groot in the class for drivers over 40, while 75-year-old Michael Bleekemolen was third. In a thrilling battle for the Rookie Trophy, Marko Stipp Motorsport’s Victor Neumann took the title ahead of Florian Richard and Julien Rehberg. Arianna Casoli took her record-breaking fifth Lady Trophy win ahead of Luli Del Castello.
Endurance Team Championship and Club Challenge
A close battle in the brand new Endurance Teams Championship provided fans with plenty of on-track action. In the end, the RDV Competition #3 crew with Jouffrreau in EuroNASCAR PRO and Patrick Schober in EuroNASCAR 2 took the title. The French outfit, led by Franck Violas, scored a total of 316 points over the course of the season, beating the #50 Hendriks Motorsport crew by 36 points. Liam Hezemans and Gil Linster had a solid season which earned the team the silver medal ahead of the #46 Marko Stipp Motorsport team with Thomas Krasonis at the wheel of their Chevrolet Camaro.
Federico Monti won the Club Challenge, EuroNASCAR’s regularity-based division. The co-owner of Academy / Caffi Motorsport topped both sessions on Thursday to move ahead of Reza Sardeha in the standings. The Italian finished eight points ahead of the Dutchman in the Team Bleekemolen Toyota. Former overall champion Andreas Kuchelbacher completed the podium, while 2023 champion Gordon Barnes ended an up-and-down season in fourth place. Kelvin Hassell completed the top five.
The 2024 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season is in the books, but the upcoming championship is already casting its shadow. TEAM FJ already entered a test car with technical improvements at the EuroNASCAR Finals. Major announcements for the 2025 season will be made in due course, with the season opener taking place on 12-13 April at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.
NWES PR
