Linster and Doubek clashed during the first EuroNASCAR 2 of the 2024 NWES season – Linster was not happy about his teammate, while Doubek claimed he didn’t make a mistake
Harmony among teammates in motorsports can be key to success but if they clash on track, the mood can change very quickly. This is what happened in the Hendriks Motorsport team at Circuit Ricardo Tormo during the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season opener. Gil Linster grabbed the EuroNASCAR 2 Pole Award for the first race of the weekend and lined up for the start of the race right next to his teammate Martin Doubek. Both wanted to treat the other with respect in turn 1 and work together but the start didn’t go as planned.
Doubek and Linster went side by side into turn 1 and at the exit of the corner they made contact. Doubek was on the outside and slightly turned into Linster, who suffered a puncture from the clash with his teammate. While Linster had to come back to the pits for a tire change, Doubek won the first race of the season in dominant fashion. Doubek celebrated in Victory Lane and Linster vented his emotions after the race.
“From my side, I was thinking that we were starting the season fairly and like I told you before the race that fights with him were quite fair. He was just too aggressive and that was just a bitchy move,” said Linster of the incident. “He knows that he cannot beat me on the race track. That was his only chance to win the race today. It’s a very stupid move. If we are on the same team, have the same guys working on our cars and then do such a stupid move on turn 2, like come on… you don’t do it. Not for me, not for the team and not to win a race.”
“It was really good from start to finish, so I’m really happy,” said Doubek in the Victory Lane. “I think this win is my first in two and a half years, so I hope the fans enjoyed it! I don’t know what happened in the first turn, but it was on the straight and not on the corner. I have to check on the video, but I had a good start and was entering the first corner well.”
Both Hendriks Motorsport cars were fast in race 1 and therefore they started again right next to each other on the front row for race 2. The day after the clash, both drivers sorted things out the best way possible but they agreed to disagree. Linster still blamed Doubek for the crash but was focused on looking forward and concentrating only on the second race, while his Czech teammate still defended his move. Race Control did not intervene, judging the matter a racing incident.
“The fact is that I lost a lot of points and I hope I will get a lot of them back today,” stated Linster in the grid for Race 2. “I will do exactly the same today. I held my line yesterday and had a super nice and clean start until we came together. He tried to push me to the inside, I think everyone saw that. But yesterday was yesterday, today is a new day and a new chance to win this race.”
“Everything is clear now,” said Doubek before the race on Sunday. “I don’t think it was my mistake. If he thinks of it like that, he can, but now we have another chance to win and I can show that I’m faster.”
Linster got off to a good start on Sunday to dominate the race and grab his second career EuroNASCAR 2 victory. Doubek ended up in a photo finish with Patrick Schober for second place and crossed the finish line just centimeters ahead of the Austrian. Doubek is leading the championship standings with one win and one second place at Valencia, while Linster limited damage by winning Sunday’s race. The Luxembourger is eighth in the overall EuroNASCAR 2 standings.
The 2024 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season continues with the NASCAR GP Italy at Autodromo di Vallelunga on May 18-19. Qualifying and all races will be broadcast live on EuroNASCAR’s YouTube channel and several TV channels from all around the world. Will Linster and Doubek clash again or will the Hendriks Motorsport drivers sort everything out before the next race?
Featured image by NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
