#NWES – Rabello returns to Victory Lane in PK Carsport 1-2 finish

It was a perfect Saturday afternoon for PK Carsport in the ELITE 2 Division. Felipe Rabello (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) won his first race of the season, the first for the Belgian team and third in his career, leading from flag to flag his teammate Guillaume Dumarey (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS). The two drivers battled all race long at the Autodromo di Franciacorta and it was the Brazilian, who started from the pole, who took the win by 1.566 seconds.

“I feel so incredibly happy and blessed”, said Rabello, who will start the Sunday race from third place behind Dumarey and Guillaume Deflandre (#77 Memphis Racing Chevrolet SS). “I want to thank my team, they did an amazing job. The car was perfect. It was not an easy race because my teammate was coming from behind and put a lot of pressure on me. I had to push hard until the last lap. Tomorrow I expect a hard fight and I think I will start from third place. So I need to have a good start. I want to get the same result as today.”

“The plan was to finish first and second but we had our hands free, we just needed not to crash into each other. It was a really fair and tough battle up front. I will start on pole position tomorrow so I hope to do exactly what Felipe has done today and win the race,” said Dumarey.

The action on track was NASCAR racing at its best all over the field, with countless overtakes and exciting door-to-door action. The Italian fans enjoyed a spectacular five-lap battle between four drivers trying to get the last spot on the podium and it was Florian Venturi (#32 Go Fas Racing Ford Mustang), who showed the attitude of a veteran, to score his third consecutive podium in NWES, also winning the Rookie Cup. Guillaume Deflandre (#77 Memphis Racing Chevrolet SS) grabbed the fourth spot ahead of points leader Wilfried Boucenna (#37 Knauf Racing Ford Mustang), who completed the top 5. Last year’s winner Denny Zardo (#2 Alex Caffi Motorsport Toyota Camry) was also in the battle for the third place but was penalized for an accident earlier in the race and was classified in eleventh place.

Ulysse Delsaux finished sixth, edging Gil Linster (#44 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) who started well in third but lost pace late in the race. Julien Schell (#29 Pegasus Racing Chevrolet SS), Justin Kunz (#46 Racing Total Ford Mustang) and Paul Guiod (#73 Knauf Racing Ford Mustang) closed the top 10 of the ELITE 2 race in Franciacorta.

Jerry de Weerdt (#78 Braxx Racing Ford Mustang) won the Legend Trophy finishing 17th right ahead of Simone Laureti (#9 Racers Motorsport Ford Mustang). In the Lady Cup Carmen Boix Gil (#1 Alex Caffi Motorsport Ford Mustang) had the better hand on Arianna Casoli (#56 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS).

The ELITE 2 Division will return on Sunday at 10:50 CET. All races at the Autodromo di Franciacorta will be streamed live at fanschoice.tv, the NWES facebook page and the NWES YouTube channel.

Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard