Euro Nascar: A first test 🎥
NEW CHALLENGE FOR TWO SWISSMEN Giorgio Maggi will compete in the Pro class of the Nascar Euro Series for the first time in 2020. And Kris Richard is switching from the GT3 cockpit to a Chevy Camaro on a trial basis. Of all things, the Nascar festivals designed especially for fans of American touring cars will have to do without spectators for the time being. With a 20-week delay, the Autodromo di Vallelunga near Rome will see the start of the [...]
Of all things, the Nascar festivals, which are specially designed for fans of American touring cars, will have to do without spectators for the time being.
With a 20-week delay, the 2020 Nascar Whelen Euro Series will begin this weekend at the Autodromo di Vallelunga near Rome. 25 archaic-looking touring cars (approx. 400 hp) with standard chassis and silhouettes of Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Camaro will alternate between drivers from 17 nations in the Euro Nascar Pro and Euro Nascar 2 categories. Among them also two well-known from Switzerland.
In the same field as an F1 world champion
Last year's Elite 2 runner-up Giorgio Maggi, for example, has moved up to the main pro and semi-pro class, as has champion Lasse Sörensen from Denmark. Here, the rider from Hergiswil will meet at least nine opponents who have also already achieved heat victories.
In addition to his Hendriks teammate and defending champion Loris Hezemans, the team includes his predecessor Alon Day from Israel (2017 and 2018 champion) and 1997 Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve. The Hendriks drivers have prepared well for the delayed start to the season with tests at Hockenheim and Zolder, as well as at Thursday's free practice session at Vallelunga.
The Ford Mustang with starting number #18 (last year it was #50) is shared by Giorgio Maggi and Vittorio Ghirella. After his first victory at Venray Raceway, the only oval circuit on the calendar, the Italian is considered the favorite in Euro Nascar 2.
New start for Kris Richard
No less than 13 rookies, as was the Swiss in 2019, are expected to start in the second class. Among them Kris Richard.
For the man from Thun, this means a new start in his career after a year's compulsory break - an accident with a Lamborghini in Monza with health consequences. But now with less pressure than he had put on himself in GT3 racing, which has become priceless.
Kris Richard: "I'm now working full time again and driving trucks full-time, which gives me a lot of pleasure. After last year's low, I did some soul-searching. I now have some sponsors who continue to believe in me and allow me to start in Euro Nascar. I'm going to see how it goes and go from there."
Depending on the outcome, the 2016 FIA European Touring Car Championship ETCC champion will continue or look for something else. He will contest the two races in Vallelunga with the Marko Stipp Motorsport team from Germany, which was previously unknown to him.
Showdown in December
A total of ten races on four European circuits count towards the championship. The grand finale takes place in Valencia, Spain, in the first week of December with four rounds on four consecutive days.
All races can be viewed live on the Nascar Whelen Euro Series YouTube channel (here the direct link) can be followed.
