Gil Linster wants to strike back and beat his teammate Martin Doubek in the title battle – The Hendriks Motorsport driver needs to eliminate bad luck and maximize his results
Crashes at Valencia and Vallelunga and a puncture at Venray: Gil Linster was unlucky in the first half of the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season. The EuroNASCAR 2 title contender wants to bounce back in the second half of the season to beat his Hendriks Motorsport teammate for the title. Therefore, the Luxembourger has been preparing hard to be in perfect shape for the regular season finale at Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic and the double-point playoff races at Oschersleben and Zolder.
“Of course I prepare a lot in the simulator, as I did before the start of the season,” said Linster. “We had a lot of bad luck with crashes in Valencia with Martin, in Vallelunga with Claudio Cappelli. At Venray we had a puncture. The 34-point gap isn’t because of performance, but because of bad luck. I wasn’t always in the right position to attack. I have to work on myself at the Indy circuit in Brands Hatch. I have always struggled a bit on this track. In general, I’m satisfied with the performance of myself and the team.”
Linster is second in the EuroNASCAR 2 standings, 34 points behind Doubek, but after the regular season finale, all drivers will drop their worst result from the first nine races. “I’m not worried about the title fight. Everything is still up for grabs and bad luck can happen to anyone on the grid,” continued Linster. “That’s part of racing, it’s out of our control. Martin will be strong on his home track, but maybe a bit nervous because it’s his home race. He has to deliver. That gives me some freedom to attack and take advantage.”
“I want to score as many points as possible and be in contention when we visit Zolder for another exciting championship decider,” said Linster about his plans for the upcoming races. The EuroNASCAR teams and drivers will be busy: The regular season will be decided on August 31 and September 1, followed by the playoffs taking place over three weeks in September and October. Linster won a race at Valencia and proved to be championship material. Doubek secured the championship in 2021 and knows how to sustain the pressure. One thing is for sure, the battle between the two Hendriks Motorsport drivers will be epic.
Featured image by NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
