Marko Stipp Motorsport owner Marko Stipp gave his thoughts to Leadlap on how his team has performed on their first season as a three-car squad in 2024.
Marko Stipp Motorsport is a team that made plenty of moves at the start of the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season. The German team expanded into a three-car effort and chose to compete with three double duty drivers in Thomas Krasonis, Victor Neumann and Nick Strickler.
Despite the added constraints of preparing three cars instead of two, the team has taken a step forward in performance with Krasonis securing the team’s first ever podium and pole position in the third round at Brands Hatch.
Marko Stipp Motorsport has also performed well in the Endurance Teams Championship with the No. 46 Costamare Inc. Camaro currently fourth in the standings, just seven points away from leaders Hendriks Motorsport.
This level of performance has satisfied team owner Marko Stipp, who spoke to Leadlap’s Andre Wiegold on how MSM have been going so far.
“We have accepted the challenge and have mastered it well,” said Stipp on MSM’s 2024 campaign. “We have managed to get every car on the grid for every race.”
“Not every car has finished every race and we now have to work on that during the summer break. We had two technical failures that were foreseeable. We have to work on that.”
“We want to get our cars into the top-10. With Thomas, we want to finish on the podium. What sets us apart is that our cars normally work well. It can’t work out that way in accidents.”
Stipp left many praises towards lead driver Krasonis, who has delivered on his second season with MSM.
The Greek driver has brought home the team’s first major silverware and both parties are looking forward to scoring more podiums after the summer break.
“Thomas has prepared very well and drives very strongly,” said Stipp on Krasonis. “We can implement what we have worked on with him in training very well in the races.”
“The only thing missing is the finishing touches, which we as a team, but also he as a driver, still need to work on. There is still room for improvement and I’m convinced that we will have a good season together.”
Neumann was also praised by Stipp, who was impressed with the rookie’s desire to push his No. 47 AIX Camaro to the limits even if mistakes from the Frenchman have cost the team on several occasions.
“Victor has good pace and drives good races,” said Stipp on Neumann. “He is aggressive and tries to make things happen. He’s getting better and better, so we’re very happy with his development.”
“Sometimes he wants too much with the car and has also been involved in accidents, but we will work on that. Now he has to finish the races and take the points. If he manages to do that, he will climb further up the overall standings, I’m sure of that.”
Stipp also believed that Strickler had a large potential that could be unlocked. The American has shown promising glimpses but was also inconsistent, something that the No. 48 Sequent Camaro team will work hard to improve in the second half of 2024.
“We need to work with Nick on his consistency,” says Stipp on Strickler. “He needs to drive consistent lap times and consistently hit the racing line.”
“In the race, he likes to switch between two lines, so we need to work on that. If he implements what he shows in practice, then he can also finish in the top-10.”
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