NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is about to start its 6th season, the 3rd under the NASCAR banner with a field stronger and larger than ever before. A formidable mix of former Euro-NASCAR drivers and prestigious new entries will launch 30 cars into turn one on Saturday April 12 for the season opener: the first Valencia NASCAR Fest.
The anticipation is growing to see who will be the fastest and who will contend for the 2014 European NASCAR crown. Ander Vilarino will go out in search of an historic three-peat, but will face an huge opposition counting both NWES veterans and prestigious new entries.
Back will be most part of the 2013 Championship’s top-10. Runner-up Frederic Gabillon (#12 Still Racing Chevrolet Camaro) and 3rd-placed Yann Zimmer (#3 TFT-Moser Vernet Ford Mustang) – who also won the Jerome Sarran Trophy and will now be a teammate of Vilarino at TFT – will both try to dethrone the defending champion, just like Romain Iannetta (#23 RDV Competition-Mc Donald’s Chevrolet SS), Freddy Nordstrom (#44 Still Racing Chevrolet Camaro) and Nicolò Rocca (Caal Racing Chevrolet SS). Former 2013 ELITE 2 Champion Anthony Gandon (TFT-Leclerc Chevrolet SS) is moving up to ELITE 1 division.
The list of the new entries is very impressive and filled with some of the best European racers. Christophe Bouchut (#77 DF-1 Racing by B66 Chevrolet SS), Bas Leinders (#32 RCP – Marc VDS Toyota Camry), Mathias Lauda (#66 DF-1 Racing by B66 Chevrolet SS) Bert Longin (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS), Eddie Cheever III (#51 Caal Racing Chevrolet SS), Kevin Gilardoni (#99 Max Papis Racing Chevrolet Camaro), Anthony Kumpen (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) will definitely want to start on the right foot their first NASCAR campaign. The Spaniard Borja Garcia (#1 Ford Autolix Competition Ford Mustang) will be back after a strong outing in 2013 Le Mans Finals, as will Fabrizio Armetta (#31 Caal Racing Chevrolet SS). Other big names like Fabrizio Del Monte (#6 Events4you by Nocentini Chevrolet Camaro), Victor Gonzalez Jr. (#19 Ford Autolix Competition Ford Mustang), Gian Maria Gabbiani (#33 Overdrive Chevrolet SS), Victor Guerin (#83 Brazil Team Chevrolet SS), Andrea Larini (#22 Overdrive Chevrolet SS) will make the first round of the 2014 season unforgettable for the Valencia crowd.
The ELITE 2 division is the ideal stepping stone for young talents willing to build themselves career in NASCAR, but also the best choice for experienced drivers that will make every race a hard-fought battle for the win and deliver a great show for the fans.
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Young Drivers Program members Ulysse Delsaux (#23 RDV Compétition Chevrolet SS) and Thomas Ferrando (#22 Overdrive Chevrolet Camaro) will both be on the grid after getting experience by racing NASCAR in the US and testing a lot in Europe, as will be rookies Philipp Lietz (#86 Renauer Motorsport Ford Mustang), Philippe Valenza (#4 Ford Autolix Competition Ford Mustang), Francesca Linossi (#31 Caal Racing Chevrolet Camaro) and Erika Monforte (#88 Euro Kart Racing Chevrolet Camaro).
And the challenge is not over, because following the great interest around the series, Team FJ will inaugurate two brand new Cups, rewarding Rookies and Ladies in a season that promises to be nail-biting from the start in Valencia to the end in Le Mans. Drivers, start your engines!
