EuroNASCAR – A comeback to remember: Federico Monti claims Club Challenge overall victory
Federico Monti swept both sessions at Circuit Zolder to snatch the overall EuroNASCAR Club Challenge victory – The Italian overhauled an 18-point deficit from Reza Sardeha
EuroNASCAR Finals started early on Thursday with the final round of the 2024 EuroNASCAR Club Challenge season and the competition proved to be exciting. The action was all about Federico Monti, who made the comeback of dreams at Circuit Zolder. Academy / Alex Caffi Motorsport’s co-owner led both timed sessions and it gave him the chance to overcome a 18-point deficit that he had to Team Bleekemolen’s Reza Sardeha and secure his first overall victory in the regularity based division.
Monti is one of the strongest competitors in Club Challenge and had been challenging for the overall victory since his debut at Circuit Zolder in 2020. The wealth of experience that the Italian had allowed him to step up his game in 2024, culminating in his triumph at the Finals in Belgium. Sardeha ultimately finished eight points behind Monti in the overall standings, but the Dutchman was pleased with his results. The Team Bleekemolen driver took two round wins and showed his capability behind the wheel of the 400 hp Pure Racing machine.
“I feel surreal, because everything started from here in 2020,” said the Italian on his winning performance. “My first race, my first win was here and now I became champion in Zolder, I’m so f****** happy! I had all the battles with these great guys and I have to thank everyone from my team. It’s been unbelievable and I have to say that I’m feeling very good.”
Speedhouse protege Dani Briz continued to impress by finishing second. Sardeha closed the podium in third with Kelvin Hassell and Andreas Kuchelbacher completing the top-5. Three-time overall winner Gordon Barnes had a tough round and was sixth after two sessions. In the standings, Monti came home as the victor with a total of 512 points. Sardeha was second with Kuchelbacher in third, 46 points behind the Italian. Barnes and Hassell were 58 and 60 points behind in fourth and fifth respectively. Briz, Edouard Fatio, Bruno Costa, Yann Schar, Vanessa Neumann, Mario Buscemi and Franck Violas rounded out the final championship positions.
Friday to Sunday will be all about EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR 2, which will crown the 2024 champions at the Finals in Belgium. Four double points races, two for each division, are all it takes before a new hero of the sport is introduced in the history books. Be sure to tune in to EuroNASCAR’s YouTube channel and numerous TV channels around the world because all qualifying sessions and races from the Finals will be broadcast live.
