NASCAR Whelen Euro Series explained

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
Pixels:250px
Category:Stock Cars
Inaugural:2009
Constructors:Chassis built by Team FJ, badged as either Chevrolet, EuroNASCAR FJ, Ford, Shadow, or Toyota
Engines:Team FJ
Region:Europe
Tyres:Hoosier
Champion Driver:EuroNASCAR PRO:
Gianmarco Ercoli
EuroNASCAR 2:
Paul Jouffreau
Champion Team: RDV Compétition
Manufacturer:Ford
Current Season: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series

The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (formerly known as Racecar Euro Series and Euro-Racecar NASCAR Touring Series) is an official NASCAR stock-car racing series based in Europe. It is one of NASCAR's four international-sanctioned series, alongside the NASCAR Canada Series, the NASCAR Mexico Series and the NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, and is the only one based in Europe.

History

USA-based NASCAR racing is using V8-powered "stock cars" and focussing mainly on oval tracks with more or less banked corners, Daytona International Speedway being a famous example. In Europe, there are some test tracks with high bankings, but only two tracks have been used for racing by CART Champ Cars, Rockingham Motor Speedway and Eurospeedway in 2001 and 2002. The ASCAR Racing Series brought NASCAR-style racing to mainly the UK from 2001 to 2008.

French rally driver Jérôme Galpin conceived the idea of a European-based stock car racing series after he watched a NASCAR race in 2002.[1] His family group, Team FJ, then launched the Racecar Euro Series in June 2008, and announced that the first season would be held the following year as a FFSA-sanctioned series.[2] The first season in 2009, was held on 7 tracks across France, with 16 cars entering the inaugural race at Nogaro. The series was approved as an International Series by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) after the series held a race at the Nürburgring in 2010.[3] [2] The calendar was expanded further in 2011, to include more races in Europe.

Galpin began to make connections with NASCAR after he had contact with NASCAR's Senior Development Business Director, Robert Duvall, in June 2009.[4] NASCAR soon took interest in the series, and later in 2010, the then-Racecar Euro Series champion Lucas Lasserre was invited to enter the Toyota All-Star Showdown.[5]

In early 2012, Team FJ entered into an agreement with NASCAR to sanction the series as part of the NASCAR circuit until 2020, though it remains registered as an International FIA series.[6] [7] As part of the agreement, the series changed its name to the Euro-Racecar NASCAR Touring Series.

With the new agreement with NASCAR, the series became an official NASCAR racing series in Europe. NASCAR rules and standards were adopted in the series. The champion was invited to the NASCAR Night of Champions Gala at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, along with the rest of the regional series champions, with the 2012 champion Ander Vilariño being the first to attend.[8]

On July 1, 2013, the series was renamed the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series after Whelen Engineering announced an agreement to become the title sponsor of the series through 2018.[9] [10] This agreement was extended on December 6, 2017, after NASCAR announced that Whelen Engineering would continue to be the title sponsor of both the Euro Series and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour until 2024.[11]

On October 4, 2019, the series announced that NASCAR and Team FJ would continue to work together to operate the series until at least 2030.[12] On October 22, 2019, the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series announced that the classes would be rebranded from Elite 1 and Elite 2 to EuroNASCAR PRO (ENPRO) and EuroNASCAR 2 (EN2) for the 2020 season.[13]

Tracks

The following are the tracks which have been used since 2009, currently are in use, and/or are scheduled to be used in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series as sanctioned by NASCAR:

YearsTrackLocationType
2016Adria International RacewayAdria, ItalyRoad course
2017–2019Autodromo di FranciacortaCastrezzato, ItalyRoad course
2014–2015Autodromo dell'UmbriaMagione, ItalyRoad course
2013Autodromo Nazionale di MonzaMonza, ItalyRoad course
2020–presentAutodromo VallelungaCampagnano di Roma, ItalyRoad course
2019, 2021–presentAutodrom MostMost, Czech RepublicRoad course
2020–2022Automotodrom GrobnikČavle, CroatiaRoad course
2011–2019, 2021–presentBrands HatchWest Kingsdown, EnglandRoad course
2009–2014Bugatti CircuitLe Mans, FranceRoad course
2009Circuit d'AlbiAlbi, FranceRoad course
2009–2010Circuit de LédenonLédenon, FranceRoad course
2009, 2011Circuit de Nevers Magny-CoursMagny-Cours, FranceRoad course
2012Circuit de Spa-FrancorchampsStavelot, BelgiumRoad course
2009–2010Circuit du Val de VienneLe Vigeant, FranceRoad course
2009–2013Circuit Paul ArmagnacNogaro, FranceRoad course
2012, 2014–presentCircuit Ricardo TormoValencia, SpainRoad course
2011Circuit ZandvoortZandvoort, NetherlandsRoad course
2015–presentCircuit ZolderHeusden-Zolder, BelgiumRoad course
2009–2010, 2013Dijon-PrenoisPrenois, FranceRoad course
2017–2019HockenheimringHockenheim, GermanyRoad course
2011MotorLand AragónAlcañiz, SpainRoad course
2023-present[14] Motorsport Arena OscherslebenOschersleben, GermanyRoad course
2010, 2014NürburgringNürburg, GermanyRoad course
2015–2017, 2019, 2024Raceway VenrayVenray, Netherlands1/2-mile oval
2012–2016, 2018Tours SpeedwayTours, France0.357-mile oval
Notes

Cars

The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is based around the concept of using NASCAR-style cars on European circuits. The Euro-NASCAR cars are inspired by American NASCAR cars but were built specifically for European tracks. The cars use a V8 engine creating 450hp. It uses a four-speed manual gearbox, is rear-wheel drive and weighs 1225kg (2,701lb).[15]

A new generation of car, dubbed as the "Next Level" package, was introduced in the 2016 season. The Next Level car saw the introduction of a new aerodynamic package and a redesigned composite body, and the cars adopted an 8-inch rear spoiler instead of the wing used in the previous generation of cars.[16] [17]

The first Next Level car to be introduced was the redesigned Chevrolet SS composite body, which was unveiled during the 2015 season-ending race at Circuit Zolder.[18] Resembling the body of its American counterpart, the car made its racing debut in the 2015 Race of Champions.[19] The Ford Mustang body also made its test debut soon after.[20] Starting in 2018, the Chevrolet composite body was updated into a Camaro ZL1-based body style, although the SS body is still legal for competition until the end of the 2019 season.[21] The SS nameplate was subsequently retired in 2020 and existing bodies from the SS platform was rebranded into the EuroNASCAR FJ 2020.[22] The revived Shadow Racing Cars brand would begin to compete with their own Shadow DNM8 chassis starting from the 2021 season.[23]

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series became the first NASCAR series to introduce sequential gearboxes after it was announced on 25 March 2021 that sequential gearboxes will be made available as an optional choice in 2021, predating NASCAR Cup Series' introduction of the sequential gearboxes with the Next Gen car by one year. A new NASCAR Whelen Euro Series car is available to be purchased from Team FJ at a price of €89,000 in 2021.[24]

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series currently featured Hoosier as the exclusive tyre supplier of the series. Previously, Michelin was the exclusive tyre supplier from the inaugural season in 2009 until 2017 while subsidiary company BFGoodrich became the exclusive tyre supplier for the 2018 season only. In 2019, Continental AG signed a six-year contract to become the exclusive tyre supplier of the series.[25] The deal was renewed on January 22, 2021, extending the tyre supply contract until 2027. General Tire was selected as the tyre brand of choice in the 2019 and 2020 season before it was switched to the Hoosier brand for the 2021 season.[26]

On 3 May 2022, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series announced a new partnership deal with VP Racing Fuels to become the new exclusive fuel supplier in the series, switching from a previously undisclosed fuel supplier. The series will now use VP's N20 Race Fuel, an unleaded gasoline sustainable fuel that incorporates 20% sustainable materials and is complying to both FIA Appendix J and European Union's E10 road fuel regulations. The series will be working together with VP to further develop the sustainable fuel with an aim to become fossil fuel free by the 2025 season.[27]

Outside of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series competition, the NASCAR Euro Series cars are used in the Race of Champions.

Specifications

As manufacturer involvement is limited, model representations are used for aesthetic purposes only. The current models available are the EuroNASCAR FJ 2020, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Shadow DNM8, and Toyota Camry. The Dodge Challenger model was available to be used in the past before it was retired after Dodge pulled out factory support for all NASCAR series outside of Canada in 2012, while the Chevrolet SS model was retired after it was rebranded into the EuroNASCAR FJ 2020 in 2020.[22]

Championships

The Euro Series champions and other standout drivers of the series will be honored at the yearly NASCAR Home Tracks Champions Awards at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.[28] Until the 2014 season, the EuroNASCAR PRO champion wins entry into a NASCAR race, the UNOH Battle at the Beach (formerly the Toyota All-Star Showdown), while the Elite 2 champion wins a NASCAR test.

A NASCAR Whelen Euro Series race week is run over three days and includes four races, two EuroNASCAR PRO races and two EuroNASCAR 2 races. Practice is held on Friday, followed by qualifying and the first races of EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR 2 on Saturday, before the week closes with the second races of EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR 2 on Sunday. The only exception to this were the race at Venray in 2019, which was run over two days and only included one race each for both classes and the 2020 race at Vallelunga, which was held using a condensed variant of the schedule as part of the sporting regulation changes made as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[29] [30]

Champions

SeasonEuroNASCAR PRO ChampionEuroNASCAR 2 ChampionClub Challenge ChampionTeam Champion
Racecar Euro Series
2009 Lucas Lasserre Wilfried Boucenna
2010 Lucas Lasserre (2) Emmanuel Brigand
2011 Éric Hélary Romain Fournillier Hélary Racing Team
Euro-Racecar NASCAR Touring Series
2012 Simon Escallier Exotics Racing - Still Racing
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
2013 Ander Vilariño (2) Anthony Gandon TFT - Banco Santander
2014 Maxime Dumarey PK Carsport
2015 Ander Vilariño (3) Gianmarco Ercoli GDL Racing
2016 Anthony Kumpen (2) Stienes Longin PK Carsport (2)
2017 Thomas Ferrando Andreas Kuchelbacher Knauf Racing
2018 Alon Day (2) Ulysse Delsaux Advait Deodhar RDV Compétition
2019 Loris Hezemans Lasse Sørensen Hendriks Motorsport
2020 Alon Day (3) Vittorio Ghirelli Alain Mosqueron (2) Hendriks Motorsport (2)
2021 Loris Hezemans (2) Gordon Barnes Hendriks Motorsport (3)
2022 Alon Day (4) Liam Hezemans Gordon Barnes (2) Hendriks Motorsport (4)
2023 Gianmarco Ercoli Paul Jouffreau Gordon Barnes (3) RDV Compétition (2)

All-time wins

All-time wins for the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series under NASCAR official sanctioning, starting from the 2012 season; does not include Racecar Euro Series wins. All figures correct as of the 2023 EuroNASCAR Finals at Circuit Zolder (October 15, 2023).

Key
width=40px align=center style="background-color:#90ff90"Driver competed full-time in the 2023 season
width=40px align=center style="background-color:#FBCEB1"Driver competed part-time in the 2023 season
BoldNASCAR Whelen Euro Series Champion
ItalicsNASCAR Whelen Euro Series EuroNASCAR 2 Champion

Elite 1 / EuroNASCAR PRO (ENPRO)

DriverWinsFirstLast
Alon Day322015 Umbria 12022 Rijeka 1
Ander Vilariño222012 Nogaro 12019 Valencia 2
Frédéric Gabillon122013 Tours 12019 Brands Hatch 2
Loris Hezemans112018 Hockenheim 12021 Rijeka 1
Anthony Kumpen102014 Le Mans 12017 Hockenheim 2
Gianmarco Ercoli92018 Brands Hatch 22023 Vallelunga 1
Borja García52014 Nürburgring 12017 Hockenheim 1
Nicolò Rocca52015 Venray 12022 Valencia 1
Eddie Cheever III42014 Brands Hatch 12015 Valencia 1
Stienes Longin32019 Zolder 22021 Zolder 1
Vittorio Ghirelli32021 Most 22023 Most 1
Lucas Lasserre32018 Franciacorta 22023 Zolder 1
Gael Castelli22012 Le Mans 12012 Le Mans 2
Yann Zimmer22013 Monza 22014 Valencia 1
Romain Iannetta22012 Spa 22015 Brands Hatch 1
Lasse Sørensen22020 Zolder 12020 Valencia 1
Jacques Villeneuve22021 Vallelunga 12021 Vallelunga 2
Paul Jouffreau22023 Most 22023 Oschersleben 1
Tobias Dauenhauer22023 Oschersleben 22023 Zolder 2
Javier Villa12012 Brands Hatch 22012 Brands Hatch 2
Mathias Lauda12014 Tours 22014 Tours 2
Marc Goossens12017 Zolder 22017 Zolder 2
Thomas Ferrando12019 Zolder 12019 Zolder 1
Alexander Graff12022 Brands Hatch 22022 Brands Hatch 2
Sebastiaan Bleekemolen12022 Most 12022 Most 1
Patrick Lemarié12022 Rijeka 22022 Rijeka 2
Liam Hezemans12023 Valencia 12023 Valencia 1

Elite 2 / EuroNASCAR 2 (EN2)

DriverWinsFirstLast
Thomas Ferrando122014 Nürburgring 12017 Zolder 2
Stienes Longin92015 Tours 12016 Zolder 2
Tobias Dauenhauer82020 Vallelunga 12021 Vallelunga 1
Josh Burdon72013 Nogaro 12013 Le Mans 1
Lasse Sørensen72019 Franciacorta 12019 Zolder 2
72020 Zolder 12021 Vallelunga 2
Alberto Naska72022 Valencia 22023 Most 2
Vittorio Ghirelli62019 Venray2020 Valencia 4
Liam Hezemans62022 Brands Hatch 22022 Rijeka 2
Vladimiros Tziortzis62022 Valencia 12023 Most 1
Anthony Gandon42013 Dijon 12013 Le Mans 2
Gianmarco Ercoli42015 Valencia 12015 Zolder 2
Wilfried Boucenna42014 Brands Hatch 12018 Valencia 2
Ulysse Delsaux42017 Valencia 12018 Hockenheim 1
Philipp Lietz32014 Umbria 22015 Tours 2
Gabriele Gardel32014 Le Mans 22016 Zolder 1
Felipe Rabello32017 Venray 12018 Franciacorta 1
Guillaume Deflandre32017 Zolder 22018 Hockenheim 2
Florian Venturi32018 Brands Hatch 22019 Franciacorta 2
Giorgio Maggi32019 Valencia 12019 Hockenheim 1
Paul Jouffreau32023 Vallelunga 22023 Zolder 2
Martin van Hove22012 Nogaro 12012 Nogaro 2
Simon Escallier22012 Valencia 12012 Valencia 2
Olivier Porta22012 Le Mans 12012 Le Mans 2
Neal Van Vaerenbergh22014 Valencia 12014 Valencia 2
Denis Dupont22014 Tours 12014 Tours 2
Salvador Tineo Arroyo22015 Umbria 22016 Brands Hatch 2
Guillaume Dumarey22018 Franciacorta 22018 Zolder 2
Vincent Gonneau12012 Brands Hatch 12012 Brands Hatch 1
Adriano Medeiros12012 Brands Hatch 22012 Brands Hatch 2
Loic Deman12012 Spa 12012 Spa 1
Marc Duez12012 Spa 22012 Spa 2
Julien Goupy12013 Tours 12013 Tours 1
Maxime Dumarey12014 Umbria 12014 Umbria 1
Guillaume Rousseau12014 Le Mans 12014 Le Mans 1
Florian Renauer12015 Brands Hatch 12015 Brands Hatch 1
Riccardo Geltrude12016 Tours 12016 Tours 1
Denny Zardo12017 Franciacorta 22017 Franciacorta 2
Nicholas Risitano12019 Valencia 22019 Valencia 2
Advait Deodhar12021 Brands Hatch 12021 Brands Hatch 1
Naveh Talor12021 Zolder 12021 Zolder 1
Patrick Schober12023 Oschersleben 22023 Oschersleben 2
Gil Linster12023 Zolder 12023 Zolder 1

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Seibaru . Tyler. 2019-01-06 . A History Of NASCAR Euro . 2022-10-16 . Influential Moments in Racing . en.
  2. News: NASCARs European union. motorsportmagazine.com. Motor Sport. 4 October 2019.
  3. News: Racecar Euro-Series approved as new international FIA series. racecar-series.com. Team FJ. 30 January 2011. 15 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110715141931/http://www.racecar-series.com/racecar/rc-pdf/101220-RACECAR_EuroSeries-New_FIA_international_series.pdf. dead.
  4. News: Industry Insight: Jerome Galpin, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series President & CEO. epub.performanceracing.com. Performance Racing Industry. 26 June 2014. 4 October 2019.
  5. Web site: LUCAS LASSERRE TOOK PART IN NASCAR: WHAT A RACE!. motul.com. Motul. 16 January 2020. 17 March 2011.
  6. Web site: Touring Series . Racecar-series.com . 2013-07-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190412115416/http://www.racecar-series.com/rc-pdf/120111-EURO-RACECAR-A_NASCAR_Touring_Series-gb.pdf . 2019-04-12 . dead .
  7. News: NASCAR: RACECAR Euro Series enters NASCAR family. auto123.com. Auto123. 22 February 2012. 4 October 2019.
  8. Web site: Concept . NASCAR Whelen Euro Series . 2013-07-07.
  9. Web site: A new era for NASCAR in Europe . NASCAR Whelen Euro Series . 2013-07-01 . 2013-07-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130710035148/http://www.nascarwheleneuroseries.com/2013/07/01/a-new-era-for-nascar-in-europe/ . 2013-07-10 . dead .
  10. Web site: Michelin extends NASCAR deal — in Europe. Tire Business. 23 July 2013. 4 October 2019.
  11. Web site: NASCAR, Whelen Engineering announce multi-year extensions. nascar.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC.. 6 December 2017. 4 October 2019.
  12. Web site: TEN-YEAR EXTENSION FOR NASCAR IN EUROPE!. euronascar.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC.. 4 October 2019. 4 October 2019.
  13. Web site: NWES Unveils Exciting 2020 Calendar. euronascar.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC.. 22 October 2019. 22 October 2019.
  14. Web site: NASCAR WHELEN EURO SERIES AND MOTORSPORT ARENA OSCHERSLEBEN PARTNER TO BRING NASCAR BACK TO GERMANY. euronascar.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC.. 27 July 2022. 21 August 2022.
  15. Web site: Cars' Specs . NASCAR Whelen Euro Series . 2013-07-07.
  16. Web site: NEXT GENERATION EURO NASCAR. 16 December 2015. Racecar Engineering. 16 January 2020.
  17. Web site: NASCAR Debuts Whelen Euro Ford Mustang. Speed Sport. 7 December 2015. 16 January 2020.
  18. Web site: New 2016 NWES Car Unveiled NASCAR Home Tracks . hometracks.nascar.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151005015254/http://hometracks.nascar.com/nwes/elite-1/story/new-2016-nwes-car-unveiled_10022015 . 2015-10-05.
  19. Web site: The 2016 NWES Car Rocks The ROC NASCAR Home Tracks . hometracks.nascar.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151127205932/http://hometracks.nascar.com/nwes/elite-1/story/2016-nwes-car-rocks-roc_11242015 . 2015-11-27.
  20. Web site: 2016 NWES Ford Mustang Makes Test Debut NASCAR Home Tracks . hometracks.nascar.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222095106/http://hometracks.nascar.com/nwes/elite-1/story/2016-nwes-ford-mustang-makes-test-debut_12072015 . 2015-12-22.
  21. Web site: La Nuova Chevrolet Camaro Sbarca In NWES!. NASCAR Home Tracks. fr. The New Chevrolet Camaro Introduced in NWES!date=9 February 2018. 25 March 2021.
  22. Web site: Jacques Villeneuve joins Academy-Caffi alliance for 2021 EuroNASCAR season. thecheckeredflag.co.uk. The Checkered Flag. 4 March 2021. 25 March 2021.
  23. Web site: GORDON BARNES GRABS MAIDEN CLUB CHALLENGE WIN AT CIRCUIT RICARDO TORMO. euronascar.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC.. 14 May 2021. 15 May 2021. In his first laps in a pure EuroNASCAR car, Marcel Berndt ended up sixth at the wheel of his #17 Speedhouse by 42 Racing Shadow DNM8..
  24. Web site: NWES INTRODUCES GAME-CHANGING SEQUENTIAL GEARBOX ON THE EURONASCAR CAR. euronascar.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC.. 25 March 2021. 25 March 2021.
  25. Web site: Euro NASCAR appoints General Tire new Official Tyre Partner. NASCAR Home Tracks. October 25, 2018. February 5, 2019.
  26. Web site: HOOSIER RACING TIRE BECOMES OFFICIAL PARTNER OF NASCAR WHELEN EURO SERIES. euronascar.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC.. 22 January 2021. 22 January 2021.
  27. Web site: VP RACING FUELS AND THE NASCAR WHELEN EURO SERIES PARTNER ON SUSTAINABLE FUEL DEVELOPMENT. euronascar.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC.. 3 May 2022. 3 May 2022.
  28. Web site: NASCAR Sets Dates & Venues For Postseason Awards. speedsport.com. Speed Sport. 30 May 2018. 30 May 2019.
  29. Web site: NASCAR expands across Europe with extended 2019 NWES calendar. hometracks.nascar.com. 2 November 2018. NASCAR Media Group, LLC.. 16 December 2018.
  30. Web site: NWES UPDATES SPORTING AND SAFETY PROCEDURES IN PREPARATION OF THE 2020 SEASON. 1 September 2020. 2 September 2020.