Team Bleekemolen signed Sandro Tavartkiladze and Sandro Kajaia to race their No. 72 Toyota Camry in EuroNASCAR OPEN and Rookie Challenge in 2026.
A new adventure awaits Georgian drivers Sandro Tavartkiladze (სანდრო თავართქილაძე) and Sandro Kajaia (სანდრო ქაჯაია) in 2026.
Both drivers are set to join Team Bleekemolen for the upcoming NASCAR Euro Series season, sharing driving duties in EuroNASCAR OPEN and Rookie Challenge respectively.
Tavartkiladze will compete in his second season of NASCAR Euro Series’ second division, while Kajaia – son of Kolkhi GRT’s EuroNASCAR PRO driver Davit Kajaia – will make his stock car racing debut in the No. 72 Toyota Camry.
“The 2026 NASCAR Euro Series grid is starting to take shape with two powerful additions confirmed by the Dutch powerhouse, Team Bleekemolen,” EuroNASCAR announced on 18 February 2026.
“The organization sealed a deal with Sandro Tavartkiladze, who impressed in his NASCAR debut back in 2025.”
“He will be joined by Sandro Kajaia, the son of racing veteran Davit Kajaia. The 17-year-old will take his first laps in the specialized, time-attack regularity-based Rookie Challenge.”
Tavartkiladze proved himself as one of EuroNASCAR OPEN’s biggest revelations in 2025. The 26-year old scored a top-10 finish in all 12 races, the only driver to do so across both PRO and OPEN.
His best result came at Most, where he held off then-reigning champion Martin Doubek to grab his first podium finish in third.
This contributed to Tavartkiladze’s fourth place finish in the standings, finishing his year with 463 points. He only lost out on the Master Trophy – and Rookie of the Year – honors to Bruno Mulders by 19 points.
Tavartkiladze not only had great speed, but also amazing adaptability: His first top-5 finish came in the wet conditions at Brands Hatch.
With a move from Kolkhi GRT – formerly Team Georgia – to Team Bleekemolen secured, Tavartkiladze is setting his sights to become the champion in 2026.
“After finishing fourth in my debut season, I am truly happy to come back for a second year and have the opportunity to fight for the top step of the podium,” said Tavartkiladze to nascar.eu.
“Gaining experience last year, our team is returning much stronger, and we will try to take the championship trophy back to Georgia. I want to thank everyone who made this possible, and I will give 100 percent to make everyone in Georgia proud.”
Kajaia had only recently made his racing debut in Georgia’s local championships, but he had already shown a lot of potential.
Kajaia finished third overall in the 2025 Georgian Touring Car Championship season, having won several races ahead of Tavartkiladze – the 2025 GTCC champion.
Having followed what his father Davit had done in the 2025 EuroNASCAR season, Sandro will now join his father’s footsteps and try to make his name known to race fans on his first international campaign.
“I’m happy to participate in the NASCAR Euro Series championship as a rookie,” said Kajaia to nascar.eu.
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