Sven van Laere and Max Lanza will continue their participation in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, maintaining their status as one of CAAL Racing’s EN2 and ENPRO drivers.
Sven van Laere and Max Lanza have signed a contract extension with Italian powerhouse team CAAL Racing, ensuring that they will be staying on the grid for the upcoming 2024 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season.
Van Laere will have a slight change on what he’s driving as the Belgian is set to become the new EuroNASCAR 2 driver of the No. 54 Chevrolet Camaro, replacing Alberto Naska as the junior class competitor of CAAL’s flagship team.
Lanza, on the other hand, will embark on his third EuroNASCAR PRO season – and fifth overall – with the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro.
Van Laere, the 50-year old driver from Gent, made his first full season campaign in 2023, four years after he made a one-off appearance at Zolder.
The season was used as a learning experience for van Laere, who finished 20th in the overall EN2 standings. He finished all ten races that he partaken, although his year ended prematurely following a Qualifying crash at Zolder that totaled his Chevrolet Camaro.
“I really enjoyed my first full season in EuroNASCAR and that’s why it was my priority to be back on the grid for the 2024 season,” said van Laere to euronascar.com. “After getting used to the car in 2023, my goal is to continue to improve and get some top-10 finishes and podiums in the Legend Trophy.”
“I had my worst and best moment at Circuit Zolder when I had a terrible crash. The support I got from the organization, my team and the other drivers and their teams was amazing. It was proof that EuroNASCAR is a true racing family.”
Lanza is aiming to bounce back after a tough 2023 season that saw him finish 20th in the standings. Like van Laere, his championship position is affected by his absence in the Zolder races, which was caused by a family emergency that he had to attend.
All of Lanza’s partners will continue to support the 43-year old driver from Rome, whose journey was recently chronicled in the Amazon Prime Video docufilm ‘My American Dream’.
“Can’t wait to sit back again in my Camaro!” said Lanza on the upcoming 2024 season. “Thanks to the results we achieved last season, Avangarde Group decided to increase its presence as my main sponsor throughout the season.”
“I would also like to thank my long-time partners KO2 and Cepi TAAS as well as my newer partner EdiLeo from Milan. They have always believed in our project in EuroNASCAR.”
“With the support of all these partners, I can count on a top-level package at CAAL Racing. I’m ready and I worked hard during the winter to be in control of what happens.”
“This will be my seventh EuroNASCAR season, so I have a lot of experience, but here it’s never enough. I want to keep the momentum from last season, I am hungry to win the Challenger Trophy!”
“EuroNASCAR races are spectacular for the fans and we drivers have a lot of fun behind the wheel. It’s a lot more exciting than other categories and you have to fight hard to bring home strong results. It’s not easy, but that’s what makes it fun for us drivers.”
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