2018 #NWES Season – A weekend of first timers

The NASCAR GP Of Italy promised action and excitement and it definitely delivered. The four action-packed races on the 2.5-km Italian track gave the fans a plethora of first timers.

Dumarey makes first trip to Victory Lane
The last time Guillaume Dumarey led laps in the ELITE 2 Division was in 2017, when he lost two heartbreaking races to Felipe Rabello in the Netherlands. Redemption for him came last weekend at Franciacorta, when he won his first NASCAR race on Sunday in a dominant performance for PK Carsport with his now teammate Rabello, who won on Saturday, right behind him. Guillaume and 2014 ELITE 2 Champion Maxime Dumarey are the first brothers to win races in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.

First win for Lasserre and Mishumotors
Mishumotors was on the verge of suspending operations during the winter, but Lucas Lasserre played a big role in keeping the German team on track and entered the 2018 NWES season with a streamlined organization. The efforts of Lasserre and team owner Mirco Schultis are definitely paying off, as the 2010 Champion was extremely competitive from the very beginning. At Franciacorta, Lasserre gave the team its first ELITE 1 win thanks to a brilliant pass on Marc Goossens at the very last corner of the Sunday race. For Lasserre it was the first time in Victory Lane since April 2011.

First ELITE 1 Podium for Gianmarco Ercoli
The 2015 ELITE 2 Champion found his best shape on his home track of Franciacorta, delivering a splendid first podium finish in the top division of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series for himself and the Racers Motorsport team. The Sunday race didn’t go as well, but the pace is there for the Italian and more opportunities to shine will come, starting from Brands Hatch, a track Ercoli loves, in two weeks. Keep an eye on Mr. Clean!

First podium and Junior Trophy win for Hezemans
Loris Hezemans showed speed – and a lot of it – in the first three races of the 2018 season, but one way or another he didn’t finish as high as the potential would have suggested. On Sunday at Franciacorta he finally delivered, earning his first podium finish at 20 years of age, battling with the best NASCAR drivers in Europe.

First Rookie Cup win for Maxim Pampel
Belgian driver Maxim Pampel closed in the best way the NASCAR debut of his Belgium Driver Academy team by bringing home a win in the Rookie Cup at the wheel of the #7 Chevrolet SS in what was only his third NASCAR race. Pampel is the third different Rookie Cup winner in four races in 2018.

The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will return to action on June 9-10 with the sixth edition of the American SpeedFest at the historic Brands Hatch Indy Circuit.

Foto Credits: Luca Casadei