Marko Stipp Motorsport will enter the 2021 Club Challenge with a strong driver line-up. The regularity-based Club Challenge division will see the return of its former champion Andreas Kuchelbacher and last season’s third placed Gordon Barnes. The Briton showed great consistency in his rookie year and now wants to make good use of his learnings.
“The goal is to win”, Barnes stated. “We gained experience last year of what is needed in the Club Challenge. It Isn’t similar to anything I’ve done before so there was a learning curve to face. However, at the end of last year, we were very close to the others. If we continue to build on our experience then I feel we have a realistic chance of success this year.”
Kuchelbacher however has already won the Club Challenge in 2017 and will go into his fourth season in the division. After a one-year hiatus from the NWES, the Austrian driver is hungry for further success: “My goal for this season with Marko Stipp Motorsport is to bring my know-how from three seasons of NASCAR into the team and, of course, to fight for the championship. To win a second title and to be on the podium in every race. After one title and two 3rd place finishes overall, the title can only be the goal.”
According to team owner Marko Stipp, the duo of Barnes and Kuchelbacher will be very competitive. “I think it’s great to have Andreas and Gordon on the team for this year’s Club Challenge. We were very happy with Gordon, his progress and results last year. Regarding Andreas, we have no doubt that he is back to chase his second title. All in all, I think both of them have what it takes to win. They will push and learn from each other.”
The EuroNASCAR Club Challenge is set to take place at five of the seven NWES weekends. Beginning in Valencia in May, the Club Challenge will also be held at Most, Hockenheim, Grobnik and Zolder.
