The 2016 edition of the Valencia NASCAR Fest opened the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season with a resounding success, highlighted by four thrilling races and over 15.000 enthusiastic fans crowding the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in the April 23-24 weekend.
The new 2016 NWES car perfectly lived up to the expectations surrounding its racing debut, giving drivers the perfect tool to put up four exciting races thanks to its improved handling and performances, as poleman Anthony Kumpen (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) demonstrated by improving the qualifying track record. The new body, inspired from the US NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars, also delivered a modern and spectacular look, magnified by the teams’ efforts to present great-looking paint-schemes.
“The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series opener at Circuit Valencia had the best of everything: top drivers, beautiful race cars, enthusiastic fans, and exciting racing action,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president of touring and weekly series. “This is shaping up to be another outstanding season of hard-fought competition and fun-filled events.”
“We are very proud of our sponsors, track-partners, teams and drivers”, said Jerome Galpin, President CEO NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. “Everybody has worked so hard this winter to make this season a success. Very few series have presented a grid mixing this field quantity and quality, as well as a very high international level as we did in Valencia. NASCAR continues definitely to grow in Europe to become one of the most exciting form of racing for fans, teams and drivers.”
Drift competitions, truck displays, cheerleaders, stuntmen and acrobatic bike shows, kids entertainment and live music were among the American-themed attractions that delighted the Spanish crowd in the third edition of the Valencia NASCAR Fest, together with the unparalleled access to drivers and teams that NWES grants to fans all over Europe.
“The Valencia NASCAR Fest has a great mix of ingredients to exalt its American flavour and it is a perfect product to work with and you can see the public loves it. It is entertainment for the entire family,” said Gonzalo Gobert, Circuit Ricardo Tormo Managing Director. “It is a pleasure to work with the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series to create this event.”
In the ELITE 1 Division Anthony Kumpen (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) and Alon Day (#54 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) reached the Victory Lane in Spain at the end of two incredibly tight 16-lap battles, run at qualifying pace, both edging a strong Frederic Gabillon (#3 Tepac RDV Compétition Ford Mustang) and Borja Garcia (#1 SPV Racing Ford Mustang), with at least six drivers from five different teams capable of winning until the closing stages of each round. A PK Carsport / CAAL Racing battle took place in the ELITE 2 division, as Stienes Longin (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) prevailed in both races on Salvador Tineo Arroyo (#54 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS), but the competition was so tight that on Sunday the Spaniard crossed the finish line just 33 one-thousandths of a second before his teammate Guillaume Deflandre (#56 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) and Hugo Bec (#3 Tepac RDV Compétition Ford Mustang) won the dash for fourth by 18 one-thousandths of a second over Roman Mavlanov (#15 Dexwet Renauer Team Ford Mustang), Martin Doubek (#5 Dexwet Renauer Team Ford Mustang) and Eric De Doncker (#98 Motorsport 98 Ford Mustang).
Representatives from NASCAR USA and series’ sponsors Whelen Engineering, Michelin, Nexteer Automotive, Dexwet and Knauf visited the Spanish event and witnessed the constant growth of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series both on and aroud the track, experiencing the unique relationship between the fans and the European NASCAR series.
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will return to action on May 15-16 for much anticipated Autospeedway American Style, the first oval race of the season at Raceway Venray the “Fastest Half Mile Oval In Europe” .
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