2025 EuroNASCAR Playoffs started with PK Carsport teammates Vittorio Ghirelli and Thomas Krasonis leading the charge in Free Practice at Oschersleben.
The opening day of the 2025 NASCAR GP Germany at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben was dominated by PK Carsport. The Belgian team led the Practice times in both EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR OPEN, courtesy of Vittorio Ghirelli and Thomas Krasonis respectively.
NASCAR GP Germany marked the start of the 2025 EuroNASCAR Playoffs, where points scored will be doubled.
Unlike the American NASCAR Playoffs, everyone is eligible for the double points. It meant that Friday’s Practice becomes crucial as the data gathered will be of special importance for the races on Saturday and Sunday.
EuroNASCAR PRO Practice Recap
Championship leaders Ghirelli and Gianmarco Ercoli entered the Germany round level of points, with Ercoli holding the narrowest of margins from having more wins than Ghirelli – three to two.
They continued to lead the way in Friday Practice, with both drivers topping one session each. Ghirelli was the one who ultimately led the combined times, with his time of 1:31.644 being 0.155 second faster than Ercoli’s.
Paul Jouffreau trailed in third, leading the Junior Trophy ranks in the process. Bruno Mulders made a big surprise by finishing fourth, beating more experienced drivers such as 2022 EuroNASCAR OPEN champion Liam Hezemans and sim racing ace Garrett Lowe.
Sebastiaan Bleekemolen, Fabrizio Armetta, Krasonis and Martin Doubek completed the overall top-10. Thomas Toffel was the fastest of the Challenger Trophy drivers in 14th, just ahead of Raphaël Lessard.
Lessard used Friday as a day of adaptation to the unfamiliar EuroNASCAR stock cars. The Canadian made his EuroNASCAR debut this weekend as part of the drivers exchange program.
2022 runner-up Alexander Graff finished right behind Lessard in the combined times. Graff entered his first EuroNASCAR race since Rijeka in 2022 after securing a last-minute deal with Marko Stipp Motorsport.
EuroNASCAR PRO FP1 Results | EuroNASCAR PRO FP2 Results
EuroNASCAR OPEN Practice Recap
Krasonis might’ve only been ninth in EuroNASCAR PRO, but he was the man to beat in EuroNASCAR OPEN. The Greek’s time of 1:32.599, set in FP1, was just enough to fend off Master Trophy leader Mulders and Doubek for the overall lead.
Mulders continued to impress by capitalizing on his fast EuroNASCAR PRO pace. The Dutchman was a mere 0.074 seconds away from Krasonis, with Doubek just three tenths behind him in third.
Toffel showed how rapid he can be on a good day by finishing fourth, just ahead of Thomas Dombrowski and Gil Linster.
Seventh place finisher Legend Trophy leader Melvin de Groot aims to keep himself in the title hunt in Germany. Patrick Schober was only eighth fastest with Valentino Gambarotto and Sandro Tavartkiladze rounding out the top-10 positions.
Loris Cencetti puts up a good fight on his maiden EuroNASCAR OPEN weekend by finishing 11th in Free Practice. Two places behind the Luxembourger is Lessard, who made a last-minute decision to enter EuroNASCAR OPEN.
Vanessa “Happinessa” Neumann’s decision to withdraw from Rookie Challenge and focus on EuroNASCAR OPEN paid off with a strong 21st place finish.
Vanessa beat four drivers, including Rookie Challenge winner José Antonio Peñalta who struggled to find pace on his competitive debut in 24th overall.
EuroNASCAR OPEN FP1 Results | EuroNASCAR OPEN FP2 Results
Disclaimer: Credits for all photos are listed underneath each image.