DF1 Racing’s star driver Nicolò Rocca considers the season-opening NASCAR GP Spain at Circuit Ricardo Tormo to be a good start of the season after the Italian driver scored two Top-5 finishes and a podium in the first race despite struggles throughout the race week.
In a recent interview with NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, DF1 Racing’s star driver Nicolò Rocca states that he was impressed with his performance on NASCAR GP Spain after he claimed two Top-5 finishes – which includes a podium finish in Race 1 – to give himself a good start for his championship aspirations this year.
“That is definitely the plan as I have been fighting for the championship until the last event already twice in my NWES career and I know what I can do better,” said Rocca to euronascar.com. “DF1 Racing has also been working very hard over the winter to give me the best possible car and now it feels like we will be able to fight for top positions at all events.”
Rocca reveals that his weekend at Valencia didn’t go smoothly after he and the No. 22 DF1 team didn’t take part in any of the three extra practice sessions that was held on Friday morning. These practice problems, coupled with his lack of pre-season testing and the major tire blowout that teammate Justin Kunz experienced on the first EuroNASCAR 2 race, forced him to drive more conservatively as a result.
“Valencia was a good warm-up for the season,” explained Rocca. “Considering that we had no winter testing, we missed out the first practice session and I was driving a bit more conservatively given it was the first event of the season, two top-5 finishes and a podium was a good start to the 2021 season. We are definitely aiming for more!”
Rocca, who came close to the title in 2019 and had previously won races with CAAL Racing and PK Carsport, hopes that he will be able to score his first race win with DF1 soon as he aims to be as consistent as possible in the upcoming rounds of the season.
“I really want to give the #22 crew and DF1 Racing the first race win with me at the wheel,” said Rocca on his goals for the season. “Winning with the third different team in NWES is the short-term goal of mine. The Brands Hatch and Most events are coming up and I really like both tracks, but generally speaking, I will try to be as consistent as possible in all events to bring the title fight to the wire!”
Disclaimer: Unless noted, all photos used in this article are courtesy of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard.