Our second Race Preview for the 2024 NASCAR Oval GP takes a look at what we can expect from the title contenders and Trophy battles in EuroNASCAR PRO.
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is back at an oval circuit for the first time in five years. Raceway Venray in the Netherlands is the track that will host NASCAR Oval GP, the fourth round of the 2024 season.
The half-mile oval has grown a reputation as one of the biggest short tracks in Europe thanks to its high speed and unique corners, which feature a progressive banking of 10–25° that promotes the usage of the outside lane as the ideal racing lane.
This made for a challenging circuit to master, as short tracks generally preferred the inside lane as the lane of choice. Maintaining momentum will be the key and as is tradition for oval racing, the tiniest mistakes can lead to the biggest consequences.
Nevertheless, the unpredictability of oval racing is something that has been long missing from EuroNASCAR and with 34 drivers and 22 teams set to enter, there’s plenty of interest from the competitors to try out this one-of-a-kind experience.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Winning at Venray would give the drivers a chance to stand alongside Frédéric Gabillon, Ander Vilariño, Mathias Lauda, Nicolò Rocca, Anthony Kumpen, Borja García, Alon Day and Loris Hezemans.
These established series legends share one thing in common: They have won oval races in their EuroNASCAR PRO careers. With NASCAR Oval GP featuring no past winners, the room is open for someone new to join the exclusive party.
Eight out of the 20 drivers that were entered have won races in EuroNASCAR, but only two can declare themselves as a past winner at an oval course in this championship. One of whom is ENPRO’s current leader, Vittorio Ghirelli.
Five years ago at Venray, Ghirelli beat Myatt Snider in an epic battle for the win in EuroNASCAR 2. It was the race that established Ghirelli as one of the drivers to watch and the Italian has lived up to the expectations in the seasons that followed.
Now, Ghirelli has a chance to repeat this feat at a larger scale. The stakes will be higher, but with the support of PK Carsport, it’s certain that their synergy will be shown again when the cars hit the track on Sunday.
Fittingly, the only other driver in the field that has won an EuroNASCAR oval race is Ghirelli’s fellow countryman and closest rival in the championship, CAAL Racing’s Gianmarco Ercoli.
Ercoli was a former winner at the 0.375-mile long Tours Speedway, a feat that he also achieved in EuroNASCAR 2. The reigning champion is still looking for his first win in 2024 and the half-mile oval in the Netherlands would be an ideal venue for the 29-year old to break the duck.
The same can be said for Lucas Lasserre, EuroNASCAR’s master of consistency. No matter what the scenario is, you can always rely on the 46-year old Frenchman to somehow find his way into victory contention.
However, Lasserre doesn’t have the strongest oval racing accolades. He only had three previous oval starts before, one in Irwindale in 2011 and two at Tours in 2018. With this in mind, there will be question marks on whether the Frenchman can show his usual consistent form at Venray.
On the other hand, Liam Hezemans does have past oval success in his records. Even though the Dutchman has yet to compete at an oval race in EuroNASCAR, he is a driver that won on his very first oval race.
Fittingly, that victory was scored at Raceway Venray. He had to beat the regulars of V8 Oval Series, one of the strongest oval championships in Europe, to achieve that feat.
This bodes well for the 21-year old, who is planning to continue his winning ways. The support of oval veterans Hendriks Motorsport and mentorship of older brother Loris will make Liam one of the must watch drivers this weekend.
Paul Jouffreau is Liam’s closest challenger in the overall standings and Junior Trophy, but his only prior oval experience came in the simulators.
Therefore, the race at Venray will be a baptism of fire for Jouffreau as he had to familiarize himself with the quirks of an oval in just a single day of action.
Tobias Dauenhauer will face a similar tough round ahead, given that the 2024 NASCAR Oval GP is the German’s first EuroNASCAR oval race. On the other hand, Sebastiaan Bleekemolen and Marc Goossens can rely on their past experience to secure a strong result.
Never discount Martin Doubek either, who is inching closer to the Czech driver’s maiden victory in EuroNASCAR’s top class.
Thomas Krasonis and Ryan Vargas had a considerable deficit from Liam and Jouffreau in the Junior Trophy battle, but their past oval experience in the United States will come in handy for this weekend.
The effect is going to be more effective for Vargas, who has ran more than 70 oval races in Xfinity and Truck Series. The 23-year old from La Mirada, California understood the ovals like no other and saw this race as a great opportunity to score his career-best EuroNASCAR finish.
The NASCAR Oval GP is also going to be Thomas Toffel’s chance to regain the lead in the Challenger Trophy. With rivals Max Lanza, Dario Caso and Riccardo Romagnoli absent on the Entry List, the Swiss has been given the golden opportunity to retake the top spot.
However, his new rival is not a slouch. Gordon Barnes is an oval winner at Belgium and the UK and was a former competitor at the V8 Oval Series.
This made him a formidable opposition in the classification on his debut EuroNASCAR PRO race, where he is set to race the No. 27 Ford Mustang of Double V Racing.
Joining Barnes in the list of debutants are Liam Lambert and Constantin Scholl, both set for their first races in EuroNASCAR’s top class with Lux Motorsport and Bremotion respectively.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Disclaimer: Credits for all photos are listed underneath each image.