Credits to NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, Andre Wiégold, and Gian Luca Guiglia for the initial reporting.
On 12 September, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series announced that German GT3 ace and former ADAC GT Masters champion Daniel Keilwitz is scheduled to be making his NASCAR Whelen Euro Series debut at next week’s American Fan Fest Semi Finals at Hockenheim. Keilwitz will be driving Mishumotors’ No. 70 Chevrolet Camaro in the Elite 1 class.
Daniel Keilwitz is among one of the most successful German drivers in GT3 racing. The 30-year old driver from Villingen-Schwenningen won the FIA GT3 European Championship for Callaway Competition in his very first season in 2010. Staying with Callaway for the next 8 years in the ADAC GT Masters, he won the ADAC GT Masters title in 2013 and scored 3 runner-up finishes in the championship in 2011, 2012, and 2017 as well as 3 third-place championship finishes in 2014, 2016, and 2018.
He also achieved success in major sports car endurance races, such as finishing as the runner-up in the SP8 class of the 2011 24 Hours of Nürburgring and winning the Pro-AM class of last year’s 24 Hours of Spa for Rinaldi Racing.
Keilwitz will be bringing sponsorship from Geigercars, an car dealership specializing in US cars and bikes that is based in Munich. Owned by Karl Geiger (pictured above), Geigercars is known to be a regular part in automotive TV shows that is aired on the German television, with Geiger himself having earned popularity for his appearance in the TV show “Boss of Big Blocks” on DMAX.
Geiger is also scheduled to be making his Euro Series debut by driving the No. 70 Mishumotors Camaro for American Fan Fest Semi Finals, as he will be testing the car on Friday as one of the participants in the Elite Club class.
“The opportunity came up spontaneous last week.” said Keilwitz to euronascar.com. “I talked to Mishumotors team owner Mirco Schultis and to Karl Geiger, who’s a good friend of mine, and we decided to take part in the NASCAR GP Germany. I follow the series and I know some drivers from the GT Masters like Euro NASCAR champion Alon Day.”
“I don’t think I will battle for the win in my very first race, but I will try to be competitive. It’s all about having fun and get used to the car and the series. I’ve never driven a car like that before! Maybe this will be the foundation for more races in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in the future.” further adds Keilwitz.
There are possibilities that Daniel Keilwitz might be ineligible to score points to the championship for his participation, as the article released by euronascar.com states that “As per rulebook, Keilwitz will not take points away from the NWES regulars.” This is similar with PK Carsport’s third car announcement back in July, where Dylan Derdaele – who is scheduled to drive PK’s third car for Hockenheim and Zolder in the Elite 1 class – states that “due to the championship rules, I will not take away any points.” It is unknown what causes this points ineligibility cases to happen.
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will return next week for the sixth race week of the season and the first race week of the 2019 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Playoffs, the American Fan Fest Semi Finals at the Hockenheimring National.
All races this season will be aired live on FansChoice.tv, Motorsport.tv, and the official Facebook and YouTube channel of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.
Disclaimer: Unless noted, all photos used in this article are courtesy of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard.