Despite a mixed feeling on the results scored in the EuroNASCAR Finals, Team Bleekemolen are proud of what they have achieved in the 2023 season.
There were mixed feelings at Team Bleekemolen following the events of EuroNASCAR Finals at Circuit Zolder, but the Dutch team remained happy with the results that they have achieved in the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season.
Team Bleekemolen entered the Finals weekend with their lead driver Vittorio Ghirelli only four points away from the championship leader Gianmarco Ercoli in EuroNASCAR PRO.
They are also in contention for the Legend Trophy in EuroNASCAR 2 as double points gave Melvin de Groot the opportunity to overcome a 30-point deficit that he had to Claudio Remigio Cappelli.
De Groot succeeded in his quest after Cappelli had a technical problem in Race 1 and lost a lot of time from going off-track when rain arrived in Race 2. The Dutchman also finished on the podium on Saturday, giving him the fourth podium finish of his career.
“The conditions were really difficult,” said de Groot when rain arrived in his Sunday race. “With four laps to go it started to rain heavily and we finished in fourth place on slicks. Despite we a missed round, we still became champions [in Legend Trophy].”
But alas, they were unable to win the big prize itself. A sixth place finish on Saturday was a decent start to Ghirelli’s title bid, but his challenge for the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series championship title came undone when he spun out behind the Safety Car due to a stuck throttle.
Sebastiaan Bleekemolen, Team Bleekemolen’s team manager, stated that a stone had entered Ghirelli’s No. 72 Toyota Camry and lodged itself underneath the gas pedal. Sebastiaan also had problems with his own gas pedal, revealing that he was forced to retire because of that on lap 10.
“Vittorio had a good chance of winning the championship, but spun during the warm-up lap due to a stone under his accelerator. Later my accelerator broke and I ended up in the gravel trap,” said Sebastiaan in Team Bleekemolen’s post-race release.
Despite the downer ending, Sebastiaan was proud at what Team Bleekemolen had achieved in the 2023 season. He noted that they had become one of the series’ leading teams and Ghirelli’s third place finish in the standings represented a new best for the Italian driver.
Sebastiaan promised that he and Team Bleekemolen will be coming back stronger for the 2024 season, a statement that confirmed the Dutch team’s return to the grid next year.
“We are one of the leading teams and had a good season. We can be proud of that,” said Sebastiaan on Team Bleekemolen’s 2023 campaign. “Vittorio has had his best NASCAR season to date with two wins. With the #69 car, Melvin and I have had a lot of bad luck.”
“For me personally, it is a year to forget quickly and we are already looking forward to the start of the new season in April.”
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