Imagine pouring everything you have into a race, only to see it all unravel in a split second. That's exactly what happened at the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in Zolder, Belgium, where dreams were made and shattered under the autumn sun. This recap dives into the thrilling qualifying rounds and the chaotic first race, highlighting the key moments and unexpected turns that defined the day.
By Wolfgang Monsehr, Staff Writer
Heusden-Zolder, Belgium – The air crackled with anticipation as the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series descended upon the legendary Zolder-Terlaemen track, a former host of the Belgian Grand Prix. Under clear skies and warm autumn conditions, the pressure was on for the final runs of the season. Drivers pushed their machines and their skills to the absolute limit in both qualifying and the first race, a 75-kilometer sprint that promised intense action.
Vittorio Ghirelli, the reigning Euro-Champion, proved he wasn't ready to relinquish his crown easily. Piloting his PK-Motorsport Chevy Camaro, Ghirelli dominated the qualifying session and the Superpole shootout, securing the coveted pole position. He essentially told his rivals, 'Catch me if you can!' But here's where it gets controversial... some competitors felt he was pushing the boundaries of the rules to gain an edge. Regardless, the leaderboard showed Ghirelli at the top, followed by Frenchman Paul Jouffreau, Dutchman Bruno Mulders, American SIM-racer Garrett Lowe, and Swiss driver Thomas Toffel. This demonstrated a diverse range of talent battling for supremacy.
Liam Hezemans, representing Rette-Jones/Team Hendriks-Motorsport, showcased the Ford Mustang's prowess by claiming 7th place. The Italian duo of Gianmarco Ercoli and Fabrizio Armetta secured the 8th and 9th spots, respectively, while German Julien Rehberg snagged the 10th and final Superpole qualifying position.
Ryan Vargas, despite feeling his German Marko Stipp-Team Chevrolet Camaro was in good shape, found himself starting from a relatively low 16th position. "The car is ok. No troubles. But of course, you are always looking to improve," Vargas, a California native, commented, highlighting the constant pursuit of perfection in motorsports. Even a seemingly minor adjustment can make all the difference.
The 75-kilometer (21-lap) race erupted into chaos almost immediately after the green flag. Jouffreau and Mulders were involved in a dramatic collision, ending their races prematurely. A devastating blow for both drivers who had shown so much promise. Vittorio Ghirelli, meanwhile, maintained his composure and seized the lead, with Thomas Toffel, Gianmarco Ercoli, Liam Hezemans, and Julien Rehberg in pursuit.
The Jouffreau-Mulders incident triggered a full-course yellow, bunching up the field. At this point, Vargas and Garrett Lowe were running in 13th and 14th place, respectively. The restart brought another shift in the order, with Hezemans executing a brilliant out-braking maneuver on Gianmarco Ercoli, securing second place and keeping Ercoli at bay.
"Unfortunately, Vittorio Ghirelli was too far away to launch an attack. So, I had to settle for 2nd overall," Hezemans explained, acknowledging Ghirelli's dominant performance. Ercoli ultimately secured a safe 3rd place, completing the podium behind his fellow countryman Ghirelli and Hezemans.
Julien Rehberg faced a tough battle, succumbing to pressure from Thomas Krasonis and Sebastiaan Bleekemolen and dropping to 6th place. Vargas salvaged an acceptable 13th-place finish, while Garrett Lowe found himself stuck in traffic during the restart and fell back to 18th. And this is the part most people miss... even the smallest mistake can have huge consequences in such a competitive field.
The unluckiest driver of the day was undoubtedly Thomas Toffel. Contact with Ghirelli at the start resulted in a one-minute penalty from race control, effectively ruining his race. After a brief pit stop, Toffel's day ended with a disappointing 22nd-place finish.
Amidst the drama, local hero Marc Goossens received a standing ovation from the crowd. Goossens, who lives near the Zolder track, had arranged a last-minute deal with Italian team owner Fabrizio Armetta to race in Zolder. Stepping into the car without any prior testing, he delivered a remarkable performance, finishing 9th overall.
"Originally, I had planned to run the complete NASCAR Euroseries again this year," Goossens revealed. "But then an opportunity turned up to be involved with Porsche-Belgium in the management of the Porsche-Cup, and this offer was much too good to refuse it," the Belgian veteran explained. Fun fact: Nearly 30 years ago, Goossens played a role in Fernando Alonso's rise to Formula 1, coaching him to success in the FIA Formula 3000 Championship (now FIA Formula 2).
Now, let's address the elephant in the room: the ongoing saga surrounding the German Oschersleben-Circuit and its future involvement with the NASCAR Euro Series. Despite the success of the previous three years and the desire from all parties to return to Oschersleben, the odds of a NASCAR Euro round happening there in the near future appear slim. The current whispers suggest that the German ADAC, the owner and organizer of the DTM series, has exerted pressure on Oschersleben to discontinue hosting NASCAR Euro events, viewing the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series as a direct and potentially dangerous rival championship. Could this really be happening? Is it fair for one racing series to potentially block another? This is a bold claim, and one that could spark considerable debate. What are your thoughts on this alleged rivalry and its impact on the future of NASCAR in Europe? Do you believe ADAC is justified in protecting its interests, or should there be more room for diverse racing series to thrive? Share your opinions in the comments below! This could be a huge controversy!
