Yesterday on 22 July, Dexwet-DF1 Racing announced that Guillaume Deflandre will made his debut in the Elite 1 class for the No. 66 team for this season’s Playoffs rounds at Hockenheim and Zolder. Deflandre will effectively become Christophe Bouchut’s replacement in the No. 66 team and will become the third driver of the No. 66 team in the Elite 1 class this season.
Deflandre, the 23-year old driver from Spa who competes for Memphis Racing in the Elite 2 class last season, is a driver that has plenty of experience in the Euro Series. He has scored 3 wins, 9 podiums, and 2 pole positions in 37 starts, with a fourth-place finish in the Elite 2 standings last season being his best championship finish in the Euro Series so far. He’s also responsible for bringing Racing-Total and Memphis Racing their first victories in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.
Deflandre has had previous experience with competing for DF1 in the Euro Series before, as he had competed with the team for eight races in 2015 and 2016 in the Elite 2 class.
Norbert Walchhofer, the team manager for Dexwet-DF1 Racing, has said that he’s also currently working to ensure that Deflandre can compete full-time for the 2020 season.
“We are looking forward to Guillaume’s comeback,” said Walchhofer. “He is a fast and talented driver, who proved to perform strong in the past. We know him well from his time with DF1 Racing and it’s great to have him in our line-up. He will compete in the Elite 1 Division in the remaining races of the 2019 season. We work hard to have him in our team also full time in the 2020 NWES season.”
“I missed the 2019 regular season, because I was not able to find the right budget,” said Deflandre on his Euro NASCAR comeback. “My manager and I found a way, to compete in the playoffs. I’m looking forward to race for Dexwet-DF1 Racing during the remaining two race weekends. I will give my best to make the team proud. This will be my Elite 1 Division debut and I’m looking forward to the new experience and challenge.”
Deflandre will become the second new addition to the field line-up for this season’s Euro Series Playoffs after PK Carsport announced on July 16 that they will field a third car for Dylan Derdaele and Pol van Pollaert in the Playoffs.
Dexwet-DF1 is currently enjoying their best season in the Euro Series so far as Lasse Sørensen has brought 4 victories for the team in his debut season and is currently sitting in third in the Elite 2 Championship standings. Justin Kunz, who currently sits in seventh in the Elite 2 standings, has also enjoyed a quietly consistent season so far while Ellen Lohr has scored a Challenger Trophy victory at Franciacorta earlier in the year.
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will return to action in 21-22 September for the first race week of the Playoffs, the American Fan Fest Semi Finals at the famed Hockenheimring. All races this season will be aired live on FansChoice.tv, Motorsport.tv, and the official YouTube channel and Facebook page of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.
Unless noted, all photos used in this article are courtesy of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard.