After Marc Goossens and Sven van Laere raced together in last year’s season finale round at Circuit Zolder, yesterday it was announced that both Goossens and van Laere will be competing full-time as the drivers of Braxx Racing’s No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro in 2020.
For Marc Goossens, the 2020 season will mark his fifth season of competing in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. One of the most versatile drivers in the world, his previous racing endeavours has resulted in accomplishments such as winning the 24 Hours of Zolder a record six times, race wins in Formula 3000 and IMSA, and a class podium finish in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Goose, as Goossens was called, has proved himself to be one of Euro Series’ fastest drivers with 1 win and 13 podium finishes in 34 starts and he also has been Braxx Racing’s star driver ever since he made his first start in the series back in 2016. For the 50-year old Belgian, the Euro Series championship title would be the goal in 2020.
“It’s great to be back with Braxx Racing for a full season,” said Goossens to euronascar.com “It is my 5th year competing in the series with this team and we are working very well together. It’s also great to share a car again with my good friend Sven van Laere.”
“Of course the goal is to aim for the championship, if not we wouldn’t be here. As the championship keeps growing, the competition gets tougher, but we are better prepared this year and we want to be stronger in single race. There are some new structures and a number of drivers found themselves a new home. It will be an interesting season ahead, but our main focus will be on our own work in order to bring the #91 to the front.”
Sven van Laere, the veteran GT racer who was crowned the 2017 Renault Clio Cup Benelux champion and is also a multiple-time class winner in the 24 Hours of Zolder, is set to be making his first full-season campaign in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series as the No. 91 team’s EuroNASCAR 2 driver following a debut appearance in last year’s NASCAR GP of Belgium.
While it was a tough debut week van Laere at Zolder last year as he was forced to retire from the Saturday race and failed to make it to the grid on the Sunday race due to engine issues, he is excited with the prospect of racing full-time in the series.
“I’m very happy to compete in the 2020 Championship together with Marc and Braxx Racing,” said van Laere to euronascar.com. “We had a difficult try out at last year’s Finals in Zolder, due to the weather and the combination of doing also a GT race on the same weekend, but I was charmed with the championship and made it my priority [to race here] for this year.”
“2020 will be a learning year, but I would not compete without a challenge for myself and that’s to try to race for the podium in the Legend Trophy. The level of the competition in EuroNASCAR is very high and it’s an honor to be part of such a competitive field with both experienced drivers and young talented drivers, so I’m not going to focus too much on the points and just enjoy the pure racing fun of EuroNASCAR.”
Anecars, the Belgian company specializing in automotive wholesale solutions, will also make its return to the series as the full-time sponsor of the No. 91 team in 2020, joining IVAR and Braxx Performance as the sponsors for Jerry de Weerdt’s team this year.
The Anecars Chevrolet Camaro will also sport a new livery this year, as they will replace the Wood Brothers-inspired livery that raced at Zolder with a new silver-with-red scheme designed by British scheme designer Charlie Fuller (CFD Graphics).
Fuller, who designed Michael Self’s Sinclair Oil Corporation scheme that made it to the Victory Lane at Daytona earlier this year, will also be responsible for the scheme design of Braxx’s IVAR and Braxx Performance scheme in 2020.
Disclaimer: Unless noted, all photos used in this article are courtesy of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Braxx Racing.