The 2025 NASCAR Euro Series GP Italy at Autodromo di Vallelunga was a blast – That’s what the drivers had to say
- Driver react to the 2025 NASCAR GP Italy at Autodromo di Vallelunga
- PRO drivers praised the amazing racing in 2025
- OPEN drivers ready to take on the competition
Round 4 of the 2025 NASCAR Euro Series season at Autodromo di Vallelunga delivered a compelling mix of strategic battles, wheel-to-wheel duels, and emotional highs and lows. As the dust settled, drivers from both the PRO and OPEN divisions shared their insights into a race weekend that may prove pivotal in the championship fight. 12,000 fans gathered around the track close to Rome to follow the pure spectacle that kept them on their feet.
PRO: Smart racing, strong duels, and respect among rivals
Championship leader Paul Jouffreau once again showed that consistency and racecraft are key ingredients to a title run. Finishing sixth on Sunday may not have grabbed headlines, but his mature approach in battling series veteran Gianmarco Ercoli proved his focus is set firmly on the long game. In addition, the Frenchman grabbed the win on Saturday making him the driver to beat before the next event at Brands Hatch.
“It was really fun because Gianmarco Ercoli is one of the most respectful drivers on the grid. I respect him one hundred percent. I didn’t take many risks in the race because we were already in first place in the championship standings,” Jouffreau explained. “I was just waiting to see if he would make any mistakes. I didn’t want to dive-bomb him because he’s really good under braking. It would have been too risky.”
That kind of measured aggression is rare for a driver so young. Jouffreau held his own in a highly competitive field and continued to score valuable points. Gianmarco Ercoli, meanwhile, demonstrated why he remains one of the most difficult drivers to pass in EuroNASCAR. The Italian defended smartly and held off several late-race attacks from Jouffreau, reinforcing his status as a true master of his home circuit.
But it was Vittorio Ghirelli who stole the show, putting together a flawless performance under pressure. Liam Hezemans chased him relentlessly, but even a near-perfect drive wasn’t enough to unseat the Italian.
“I gave it my all this time. There was nothing more I could do,” Hezemans admitted. “He just drove an awesome race. I tried everything and put a lot of pressure on him. He was just faster. He made no mistakes, and that was the difference.” Despite the frustration, Hezemans was able to take positives from his performance. The speed is there, and with Brands Hatch looming, the Dutchman remains a real contender.
Another strong performance came from Thomas Krasonis, who was pleased with the outcome of a well-executed race plan. “We were really well-prepared. I’d like to thank my sponsors, Costamare and Dodoni; my coach; my trainer, Alon Day; and my team, PK Carsport,” Krasonis said. “I wanted to get off to a good, clean start and stay out of trouble. We scored good points, and now we’re heading to my favorite track. Brands Hatch, be ready. I promise you the races will be awesome.”
Veteran racer Claudio Cappelli also enjoyed a satisfying run at Vallelunga, staying competitive throughout and pushing his way into the top-10. “I’m very happy. I matched the pace of Gianmarco Ercoli, and this is his home track. Everyone says it’s mine, but I live more than 600 kilometers away. I only race here once a year,” Cappelli said. “I made mistakes in the open race, so I tried to keep it clean with Gianmarco. I wanted to end the weekend smiling, not angry.”
For Max Lanza, tire degradation in the closing stages made for a tough challenge, but he still found the positives in a difficult race. “I struggled managing the tire at the end of the race. It was not an easy race. 13th place and second in the Challenger Trophy were good results. I’m competing against the best NASCAR drivers in Europe and around the world. It’s just amazing,” said the Challenger Trophy contender.
Mechanical issues plagued Davit Kajaia, but the Georgian showed grit by bringing the car home despite a severely compromised setup. “It was strange because I had electrical issues with the car on Saturday. I think I broke my rear spring during the second race. Without a working spring, the car was all over the place. The shock absorber was broken, but I made it.”
Meanwhile, Garrett Lowe reflected on a missed opportunity after a mistake in practice compromised his qualifying and ultimately his race. “We made a mistake during practice, which cost us a lot of track time and hurt our qualifying efforts. I’m not perfectly pleased, but I never am. We had a decent start to the season, and we’re looking for more.”
OPEN: Determination, and big battles
The OPEN division once again brought close racing and unpredictable drama, with several drivers fighting through restarts and Full Course Yellows to secure valuable points.
Patrick Schober emerged as one of the big winners, securing a podium finish that boosted both morale and his championship campaign. “I personally don’t like the many Full Course Yellows. That’s racing, though, and I managed to keep the #13 car behind me. I’m happy to have scored a podium for my team, RDV Competition. It’s good for the overall championship standings.”
Melvin de Groot faced a chaotic race, filled with position changes and close calls, but kept his cool to earn a strong finish and good points in the battle for the Legend Trophy. “So much was happening in the race,” said the Dutchman. “It was like a roller coaster, with cars flying around everywhere. I told you, it was all about the start and avoiding a collision. It paid off. I was third, but I went to a dirty part of the track and fell back to fifth. All in all, it was an interesting race.”
Thomas Dombrowski had a tough start to the race but showed resilience and focus, climbing up the order thanks to clever radio communication and perfect timing.
“The restarts were really important. The initial start was complicated,” said the Frenchman after scoring his maiden podium. “We got blocked and it was a mess. I struggled a lot with my front tires at the end, it was too warm. But it was a very good race, especially that close finish with Martin Doubek. Thanks to Anthony Kumpen on the radio during the restart. He had perfect timing and I gained two positions. This one is for Anthony.”
Heading into the weekend, Arianna Casoli was still recovering from her heavy crash in Round 3 and the effects of an arm injury. “I’m okay. I just have a small fracture and dislocation in my arm. It’s tough for the championship, especially with all the damage to the car. I had no chance to avoid the crash. The pain isn’t that bad. I’ll get another X-ray, but let’s see when I can get back on track.”
Youngster Bruno Mulders continued to learn with every lap and reflected on the adaptation process from karting to EuroNASCAR machinery. He scored his second podium finish and also made his PRO debut on Sunday. “As a driver, you always want to be up front. Coming from karting, adapting to the EuroNASCAR car was a big change. Because of the car’s weight, I had to optimize weight shifting while steering. Overall, it’s just a lot of fun to drive.”
With the championship heading to the iconic Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in the United Kingdom, all eyes are on who will seize momentum. The twists and turns of Round 4 have already reshaped the title picture – and in the NASCAR Euro Series, anything can happen. Qualifying and all races on June 8-9 will be broadcast live on EuroNASCAR’s YouTube channel and TV networks from all around the world.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
