EuroNASCAR OPEN – Start Records
The listing for all records related to driver starts in EuroNASCAR’s junior division, EuroNASCAR OPEN.
A total of 279 drivers have made at least one (1) entry in a race of NASCAR Euro Series’ junior division EuroNASCAR OPEN since the series’ first season under NASCAR’s official sanctioning in 2012.
A driver is considered to have entered a race if they attempted to compete in at least one official session, while a driver is considered to have started if the driver was to take the green flag at the start of a race.
Listed below are some of the records that are related to driver starts in EuroNASCAR OPEN. Full details of each record can be checked through the link that was attached on their respective sections.
NOTE : The list shown below are correct as of the end of the 2024 Valencia NASCAR Fest at Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Drivers shown in “bold” are drivers that have competed in at least one (1) EuroNASCAR OPEN race of the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season.
MOST STARTS IN EURONASCAR OPEN
Arianna Casoli currently holds the record for the most starts in EuroNASCAR OPEN. Casoli has entered 94 races and started in 93 of them, making her the most experienced OPEN and female driver in the NASCAR Euro Series.
The table below will be listing the 10 drivers with the most starts in EuroNASCAR’s junior division.
Most EuroNASCAR OPEN Starts - Top 10
| RANK | DRIVER | STARTS | ENTRIES | CAREER SPAN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 🇮🇹 Arianna Casoli | 93 | 94 | 2016-present |
| 2. | 🇨🇿 Martin Doubek | 82 | 83 | 2015-2017, 2019-present |
| 3. | 🇫🇷 Eric Quintal | 79 | 80 | 2012-2014, 2018-present |
| 4. | 🇩🇪 Justin Kunz | 59 | 61 | 2016-2019, 2021 |
| 5. | 🇫🇷 Ulysse Delsaux | 59 | 60 | 2014-2015, 2017-2018, 2022 |
| 6. | 🇱🇺 Gil Linster | 55 | 56 | 2017-2018, 2021-present |
| 7. | 🇧🇪 Jerry de Weerdt | 54 | 54 | 2014-2019 |
| 8. | 🇮🇹 Simone Laureti | 50 | 51 | 2014-2019 |
| 9. | 🇫🇷 Thomas Ferrando | 48 | 48 | 2014-2017 |
| 10. | 🇨🇭 Léonard Vernet | 46 | 46 | 2012-2015 |
For more information, check out the EuroNASCAR OPEN – All-Time Career Starts page in the link here.
YOUNGEST DRIVER TO START A RACE
Two drivers shared the honor of being the youngest driver to start a race in EuroNASCAR OPEN: Leonardo Colavita and Mario Ercoli. Both Colavita and Ercoli were 16 years and 3 days old when they made their debuts.
Colavita was the first to do so, having made his first appearance in the first race of the 2021 Fracasso NASCAR GP Croatia at Automotodrom Grobnik. Two years later, Ercoli tied the record with his first start in the 2023 NASCAR GP Germany at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.
They beat the previous record set by Arthur Lehouck, who started the first race of the 2015 Tours Motor Show at the age of 16 years and 21 days old.
The table below will be listing the 10 youngest drivers to have started a race in EuroNASCAR’s junior division. Only the driver’s first start is listed.
Youngest EuroNASCAR OPEN Starters - Top 10
| RANK | DRIVER | AGE AT FIRST START | FIRST START |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 🇮🇹 Leonardo Colavita | 16 years, 3 days | 2021 Fracasso NASCAR GP Croatia, Race 1 |
| 🇮🇹 Mario Ercoli | 2023 NASCAR GP Germany, Race 1 | ||
| 3. | 🇫🇷 Arthur Lehouck | 16 years, 21 days | 2015 Tours Motor Show, Race 1 |
| 4. | 🇬🇧 Ben Creanor | 16 years, 30 days | 2019 Valencia NASCAR Fest, Race 1 |
| 5. | 🇫🇷 Evan Pichard Arnaud | 16 years, 64 days | 2017 Valencia NASCAR Fest, Race 1 |
| 6. | 🇫🇷 Ulysse Delsaux | 16 years, 202 days | 2014 Valencia NASCAR Fest, Race 1 |
| 7. | 🇫🇷 Thomas Ferrando | 16 years, 222 days | 2014 Valencia NASCAR Fest, Race 1 |
| 8. | 🇫🇷 Paul Guiod | 16 years, 223 days | 2016 Valencia NASCAR Fest, Race 1 |
| 9. | 🇦🇺 Max Mason | 16 years, 233 days | 2023 Valencia NASCAR Fest, Race 2 |
| 10. | 🇫🇷 Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer | 16 years, 252 days | 2017 American Fan Fest, Race 1 |
For more information, check out the EuroNASCAR OPEN – Youngest and Oldest Drivers page in the link here.
OLDEST DRIVER TO START A RACE
Michael Bleekemolen is currently the oldest driver to start a race in EuroNASCAR OPEN. Bleekemolen was 74 years and 197 days old when he raced Team Bleekemolen’s No. 72 Toyota in the second race of the 2024 Valencia NASCAR Fest at Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
He beat the previous record set by Filippo Vita, who started the second race of the 2018 Valencia NASCAR Fest at the age of 65 years and 112 days old. Bleekemolen will extend this record further as he’s currently an active driver in the series.
The table below will be listing the 10 oldest drivers to have started a race in EuroNASCAR’s junior division. Only the driver’s last start is listed.
Oldest EuroNASCAR OPEN Starters - Top 10
| RANK | DRIVER | AGE AT LAST START | LAST START |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 🇳🇱 Michael Bleekemolen | 74 years, 195 days | 2024 Valencia NASCAR Fest, Race 2 |
| 2. | 🇩🇪 Frank Riedel | 67 years, 26 days | 2020 Fracasso NASCAR GP Croatia, Race 2 |
| 3. | 🇮🇹 Filippo Vita | 65 years, 112 days | 2018 Valencia NASCAR Fest, Race 2 |
| 4. | 🇬🇧 Nigel Vaulkhard | 64 years, 194 days | 2012 Spa 200, Race 2 |
| 5. | 🇫🇷 Jérôme Laurin | 63 years, 61 days | 2014 Nürburgring 200, Race 2 |
| 6. | 🇮🇹 Leonardo Baccarellii | 62 years, 77 days | 2015 American Festival NASCAR Finals, Race 2 |
| 7. | 🇬🇧 Tiff Needell | 61 years, 349 days | 2013 Le Mans Finals, Race 2 |
| 8. | 🇦🇹 Willy Gruber | 61 years, 309 days | 2016 American Festival NASCAR Finals, Race 2 |
| 9. | 🇧🇪 Eric de Doncker | 61 years, 217 days | 2023 EuroNASCAR Finals, Race 2 |
| 10. | 🇫🇷 Eric van der Vyver | 61 years, 13 days | 2015 Autospeedway American Style, Race 2 |
For more information, check out the EuroNASCAR OPEN – Youngest and Oldest Drivers page in the link here.
THE "IRON MAN" aka. MOST CONSECUTIVE EURONASCAR PRO STARTS
Thomas Ferrando currently holds the record for the most consecutive starts in EuroNASCAR OPEN. Ferrando started 48 consecutive races, two more than Léonard Vernet’s streak of 46 races.
He beat the previous record set by the late Vernet when he started the first race of the 2017 American Festival NASCAR Finals at Circuit Zolder, the 47th race of his career.
The table below will be listing the 10 drivers with the most consecutive starts in EuroNASCAR’s junior division.
Longest EuroNASCAR OPEN Start Streak - Top 10
| RANK | DRIVER | STARTS | RACES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 🇫🇷 Thomas Ferrando | 48 | 2014 Valencia 1 - 2017 Zolder 2 |
| 2. | 🇨🇭 Léonard Vernet | 46 | 2012 Nogaro 1 - 2015 Zolder 2 |
| 🇨🇿 Martin Doubek | 2020 Zolder 1 - 2024 Valencia 2 (ongoing) | ||
| 4. | 🇩🇪 Justin Kunz | 41 | 2016 Brands Hatch 1 - 2019 Venray |
| 5. | 🇮🇹 Arianna Casoli | 40 | 2016 Brands Hatch 1 - 2019 Most 2 |
| 6. | 🇫🇷 Paul Guiod | 36 | 2016 Valencia 1 - 2018 Zolder 2 |
| 7. | 🇮🇹 Nicholas Risitano | 35 | 20187 Valencia 1 - 2020 Valencia 4 |
| 8. | 🇺🇦 Yevgen Sokolovskiy | 30 | 2020 Zolder 1 - 2022 Zolder 2 |
| 9. | 🇨🇾 Vladimiros Tziortzis | 29 | 2020 Vallelunga 1 - 2022 Zolder 1 |
| 10. | 🇧🇷 Marconi Abreu | 28 | 2016 Valencia 1 - 2018 Franciacorta 2 |
MOST RACES WITH THE SAME TEAM
Ulysse Delsaux currently holds the record for the most races with the same team. All of Delsaux’s fifty-nine (59) starts and sixty (60) entries in EuroNASCAR 2 was done in a ride fielded by RDV Competition.
He beat the previous record set by Arianna Casoli, who made her 55th and final entry for CAAL Racing in the second race of the 2021 American Festival of Rome at Autodromo Vallelunga.
The table below will be listing the 10 drivers that participated the most races with the same team in EuroNASCAR’s junior division.
Drivers with the Most Races in the Same Team - Top 10
| RANK | DRIVER | ENTRIES | STARTS | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 🇫🇷 Ulysse Delsaux | 60 | 59 | RDV Competition |
| 2. | 🇨🇿 Martin Doubek | 57 | 56 | Hendriks Motorsport |
| 3. | 🇮🇹 Arianna Casoli | 56 | 55 | CAAL Racing |
| 4. | 🇧🇪 Jerry de Weerdt | 54 | 54 | Braxx Racing |
| 5. | 🇨🇭 Léonard Vernet | 46 | 46 | TFT Racing |
| 6. | 🇫🇷 Didier Bec | 48 | 45 | RDV Competition |
| 7. | 🇳🇱 Michael Bleekemolen | 43 | 42 | Team Bleekemolen |
| 8. | 🇫🇷 Thomas Ferrando | 36 | 36 | Knauf Racing |
| 🇫🇷 Paul Guiod | 36 | 36 | Knauf Racing | |
| 10. | 🇫🇷 Eric Quintal | 36 | 35 | SpeedHouse Racing |
LONGEST GAP BETWEEN TWO STARTS
Fabrizio Armetta currently holds the record for the longest gap between two starts in EuroNASCAR OPEN.
A gap of 7 years and 214 days separates Armetta’s starts on the 2013 Le Mans Finals at Bugatti Circuit and the 2021 Valencia NASCAR Fest at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, breaking the previous record of 3 years and 310 days that was set by Wilfried Boucenna.
The table below will be listing the 10 longest gap between two starts in EuroNASCAR’s junior division.
Longest Gap Between Two EuroNASCAR OPEN Starts - Top 10
| RANK | DRIVER | RACES | TIME GAP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 🇮🇹 Fabrizio Armetta | 2013 Le Mans 2 - 2021 Valencia 1 | 7 years, 214 days |
| 2. | 🇸🇰 Christian Malcharek | 2016 Brands Hatch 2 - 2022 Valencia 1 | 5 years, 336 days |
| 3. | 🇮🇹 Dario Caso | 2017 Zolder 2 - 2022 Vallelunga 1 | 4 years, 267 days |
| 4. | 🇮🇹 Roberto Benedetti | 2017 Zolder 2 - 2022 Valencia 1 | 4 years, 211 days |
| 5. | 🇧🇪 Eric de Doncker | 2019 Most 1 - 2023 Zolder 1 | 4 years,108 days |
| 6. | 🇫🇷 Wilfried Boucenna | 2014 Brands Hatch 2 - 2018 Valencia 1 | 3 years, 310 days |
| 7. | 🇫🇷 Didier Bec | 2017 Franciacorta 2 - 2021 Valencia 1 | 3 years, 240 days |
| 8. | 🇧🇪 Sven van Laere | 2019 Zolder 1 - 2023 Valencia 1 | 3 years, 213 days |
| 9. | 🇫🇷 Ulysse Delsaux | 2018 Zolder 2 - 2022 Valencia 1 | 3 years, 205 days |
| 10. | 🇫🇷 Eric Quintal | 2014 Le Mans 2 - 2018 Valencia 1 | 3 years, 184 days |
Disclaimer: Information taken for this page are taken from data that are verified through Racing Reference, DriverDB, Speedsport Magazine and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. Credits for all photos are listed underneath each image.
Last Updated: 27 November 2024