Our second Race Preview for the 2024 NASCAR GP Germany takes a look at what we can expect from the title contenders and Trophy battles in EuroNASCAR PRO.
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will start the 2024 Playoffs this weekend with their second ever visit to the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, the home for the NASCAR GP Germany.
After Vittorio Ghirelli and Martin Doubek top the regular season standings in EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR 2 respectively, the competition kicks into top gear with a stretch of four double points paying races that will amp up the tension and excitement for drivers, teams and fans alike.
Ghirelli might have cruised to an easy victory in the regular season after he scored five wins and took podiums in all but one of the previous nine races, but the Italian knew that the Playoffs are the rounds that will make or break his season.
The PK Carsport driver had a good track record when he last visited Oschersleben, finishing first on the line in Race 1 before a penalty compromised his weekend.
This should bode well for Ghirelli’s aspiration to maintain his championship lead as not only did he show his speed here, he also learned that penalties – or indeed any mistakes – should be avoided during the Playoffs.
Being the sole leader of the championship could also play in Ghirelli’s favor as his closest rivals, Liam Hezemans and Paul Jouffreau, are also busy contesting the Junior Trophy given that they’re separated by just two points in the Trophy standings.
However, Liam and Jouffreau have proven that they had the speed to beat Ghirelli, given that they are the only other drivers to have scored a race win in the 2024 season so far.
Both drivers also ran well at Oschersleben last year, with Liam setting the fastest lap in Race 2 and Jouffreau coming very close to a victory sweep in both divisions.
Expectations will be high on the youngsters to make some ground as they chase for the opportunity to become the youngest EuroNASCAR PRO champion in history.
On the topic of champions, Gianmarco Ercoli is hoping for a turnaround of fortunes this weekend. The reigning champion is still winless and his performance at Most sets off some alarm within CAAL Racing as he struggled to compete in the top-5 during the races.
In contrast, Lucas Lasserre put up an impressive performance at Most to show what the French veteran can do with the right setup and car underneath him.
The glimpses of speed that Lasserre had will strike some fear to his opponents as he’s already known for his sheer consistency. He’s always there to scoop up the best results possible and in Playoffs, it’s a very crucial asset to have.
Another veteran that will aim high at Oschersleben is Marc Goossens, who carries momentum from his double podium finish in Czechia. It was the Belgian’s first double podium since Zolder in 2021, a feat that proved that age is only a number for the 54-year old.
Goossens does have a rather hefty 62 points deficit to Ghirelli, but it’s a gap that can be turned over in the blink of an eye as there’s a maximum of 166 points up for grabs at Oschersleben.
For home crowd favorite Tobias Dauenhauer, a return to Oschersleben serves as a good opportunity for the German to bounce back after a tough season where he struggled for setup in the majority of races.
This time, setup will not be an issue for Dauenhauer and Bremotion as they already have the recipe for success, but will it be enough to stop the might of Ghirelli and PK Carsport’s No. 24 infitto.eu Camaro?
Other drivers to look for include outside title contenders Martin Doubek, Ulysse Delsaux and Ryan Vargas. All three drivers are still within 70 points of Ghirelli and a good round in Germany can push them into a proper title shot at Zolder.
A closer gap is seen amongst the four primary Challenger Trophy drivers, with 21 points being the difference between leader Max Lanza and joint third-placed drivers Dario Caso and Riccardo Romagnoli.
With Thomas Toffel poised for a comeback after the Swiss lost a lot of ground at Czechia, the battle to become the best Grade C driver is shaping up to be just as dramatic as the main title contenders.
Disclaimer: Credits for all photos are listed underneath each image.
Last Updated: 26 December 2024