Our first Race Preview for the 2024 NASCAR GP Czech Republic takes a look at the changes that had been announced in the Provisional Entry List for Autodrom Most.
After a lengthy summer break, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is ready to get things back in gear with the fifth round of the 2024 season, the NASCAR GP Czech Republic at Autodrom Most.
Once again held alongside the FIA European Truck Racing Championship (ETRC) as part of the Czech Truck Prix, the 4.212-kilometer long Autodrom Most is a popular venue for stock car racing due to its challenging nature.
Most’s fast and flowing corners require skillful precision to get the optimum line around and the first chicane is a prime spot for high intensity dramas. Put the two together, and you have elements that will make or break a driver’s race.
There will be added pressure for the competitors in the 2024 edition because the event is set to be the final round of the regular season.
Maximizing results will be the goal for the 44 drivers and 27 teams that entered the round, all ready to earn some momentum before the all-important double points playoffs at Oschersleben and Zolder.
After the NASCAR Oval GP featured a decrease in entry count, EuroNASCAR’s return to road courses ensured that all full-time competitors that missed the race at Raceway Venray would be back on the grid once again.
Chief among which are the Italian contingent of Vict Motorsport, Club Motorsport and Granducato Speed, all returning to Most with the same driver line-up that they have in the first half of the season.
Race Planet Team Bleekemolen also brought back the No. 11 Anyone.com Ford Mustang to the grid for Most, with Reza Sardeha set to make his return after he skipped his home race at Venray due to his lack of oval racing experience.
Twenty-four drivers are listed on the Provisional Entry List in EuroNASCAR PRO, notably with little changes from either Brands Hatch or Venray.
The most notable change came from Double V Racing, who will assign their rookie driver Simone Giussani in the EuroNASCAR PRO seat for the first time.
Having shown glimpses of promise in his rollercoaster EuroNASCAR 2 career so far, Giussani hopes to gain more experience in the world of stock car racing by pitting himself against the series’ best drivers at Most.
Giussani will also join the competitive battles of Junior Trophy, which for this week also featured the return of Julien Rehberg. The young German driver is set to make his second double duty appearance, having previously done so in Round 2 at Vallelunga.
Dario Caso, Fabrizio Armetta, Riccardo Romagnoli and Max Lanza will be back in their usual machines this weekend, ensuring a lively battle for the hotly contested Challenger Trophy classifications.
Liam Lambert will add more spice in the classification for Grade C drivers. The Brit, who made his debut at the Venray oval, returns to Lux Motorsport’s No. 21 GT Omega Chevrolet after he secured enough funding to race with the Scottish team once again.
Absences affected the grid for EuroNASCAR 2, which featured a field of 21 drivers. Both Federico Monti and Ryan Vargas opted to return to their main divisions for Most, while CAAL Racing’s No. 88 team will not feature Roberto Benedetti as the Italian continues to recover from his Brands Hatch injuries.
Benedetti’s teammate Sven van Laere also continues his absence from Venray, but the Italian team have found a replacement in the form of Luli del Castello, the 2022 Lady Trophy champion.
Del Castello is set to be reunited with Gianmarco Ercoli in the No. 54 Steelduxx / HPM Chevrolet Camaro and aims to make an impression prior to a possible full-time return in 2025.
In Club Challenge, eight drivers will be competing for points-paying positions in the regularity-based division. Gordon Barnes once again will be the favorite, while top contender Dani Briz returns to SpeedHouse following his absence at Vallelunga.
Another one to watch for is Andreas Kuchelbacher, who predicts that Most will be the round that determines the primary candidate for the championship title in 2024. Will his prediction come true when the season concludes at Zolder in October?
Disclaimer: Credits for all photos are listed underneath each image.
Last Updated: 30 August 2024