Federico Monti laps Autodromo Vallelunga during Club Challenge at Vallelunga in 2024
Credits: NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese

EuroNASCAR’s new regulations for Rookie Challenge maintains some familiar rules from Club Challenge while also introducing plenty of new ones.

NASCAR Euro Series have officially unveiled the rules and regulations for the Rookie Challenge division in 2025. The division formerly known as Club Challenge will maintain some familiar rules while also introducing new ones to differentiate it from the previous format.

These changes are introduced to make Rookie Challenge more suited for the division’s new goals of making it more suited for rookies to acclimatize themselves to the sport.

“The Rookie Challenge is designed to train and prepare rookie drivers for future NASCAR Euro Series races,” announced EuroNASCAR on 20 January 2025

“It provides beneficial track time in a friendly and consistent environment during private practice sessions organised immediately prior to the prestigious NASCAR Euro Series events to discover the NASCAR cars and tracks.”

Reza Sardeha on his way to Club Challenge victory at Oschersleben in 2024
Credits: NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner

Rookie Challenge will maintain Club Challenge’s regularity-based format. Drivers are still given three 30-minute sessions, with the latter two counting towards points in the standings. The last session is exclusive for Rookie Challenge competitors only.

Just like in Club Challenge, results are based on how close a driver can match their target time. The five laps closest to the target time will be counted, with the winner being given to whoever accumulated the least penalty time.

If there’s a tie between two drivers’ penalty times, then whoever had the second closest lap to their chosen reference time will stand on top.

However, there’s one major change to the proceedings. There’s more freedom on the target times a driver can select select prior to the points paying sessions. In Club Challenge, EuroNASCAR provided drivers with just two predetermined target times that they could choose.

This change plays in tandem with the changes to Rookie Challenge’s bonus point system. Previously, bonus points were only given to the drivers that selected the faster reference time in both points paying sessions.

Three-time champion Gordon Barnes laps Circuit Zolder during the 2024 Club Challenge session
Credits: NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner

With teams and drivers now able to select their own reference time, EuroNASCAR will reward the competitor’s bravery accordingly.

The driver with the fastest reference time will receive three points. Those with the second and third fastest reference times will earn two and one point respectively.

This bonus point can be shared by anyone that selected the top-3 reference times. If, for instance, drivers A and B selected a reference time of 1:46.000 and that time is the fastest reference time in the session, then both drivers will receive three bonus points.

In addition, a driver that manages to either match or beat their faster reference lap time will score one additional bonus point.

EuroNASCAR also reserved the rights to select a slower reference time for a driver if their lap times were too slow for their selected reference time.

Vittorio Ghirelli and PK Carsport took advantage of Club Challenge's provision to great effect on their championship winning 2024 season
Credits: NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese

Changes are also implemented to the driver’s entry. Previously, anyone from EuroNASCAR’s top two divisions – EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR OPEN – can freely enter Club / Rookie Challenge as a non-participant.

This provision effectively gives any PRO or OPEN driver two additional Free Practice sessions to play with. With more track time, PRO or OPEN interlopers have an extra advantage on their hands for the main races.

Under the Rookie Challenge regulations, this loophole has now been closed. The provision is now only eligible for drivers that met one of the following requirements:

  • Is racing their first season campaign in EuroNASCAR.
  • Is a competitor of multiple seasons, but never competed in more than three rounds in any previous year.
Inaugural Rookie Challenge champion Andreas Kuchelbacher drives the #14 SpeedHouse Ford Mustang during the 2024 Club Challenge Vallelunga round
Credits: NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner

Uniquely, EuroNASCAR also made a provision for someone to take part in Rookie Challenge as a passenger. The passenger will be allowed to join the fun if:

  • The organization behind the passenger ride made an official request that was validated by Team FJ.
  • The selected machine is properly configured for two-seater experience, especially on the safety equipment.

The end-of-season prizes have also been significantly increased. EuroNASCAR now offers Rookie Challenge champions with a full, 100% discount on the entry fee for the next season.

Those who finish second and third in the standings will receive a 50% discount on their entry fee.

Disclaimer: Credits for all photos are listed underneath each image.

By Reza Maulana

Owner of World of EuroNASCAR. Official member of the EuroNASCAR media team. Long-time motorsport fan from Indonesia.

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