Melvin de Groot scored his maiden NASCAR Euro Series win in treacherous rain at Brands Hatch – The Dutchman also took over the lead in the overall standings
- Melvin de Groot drove a masterpiece in the rain in Brands Hatch to score his maiden win
- Thomas Toffel took home second place under the toughest conditions
- Dominique Schaak collected his first ever lead laps in NASCAR
Black clouds rolled in at Brands Hatch just as the Grand Marshal spoke motorsport’s most famous words: “Drivers, start your engines!” That was the moment the rain came down in torrents. Immediately, the race turned into an almost impossible puzzle – some drivers pitted for rain tires, while others were already on wets. Safety concerns caused by multiple cars off track and heavy rain made race control opt for a red flag. In addition, a blackout knocked out power and the internet at the circuit. After the restart, Melvin de Groot took control, passing three drivers on his way to a spectacular maiden NASCAR Euro Series OPEN victory in the toughest possible conditions.
NASCAR GP UK LINKS: INFO & TICKETS | SCHEDULE | ENTRY LIST | LIVE TIMING | WATCH LIVE
In what was a memorable race, Dominique Schaak, who started the race on rain tires, led the field to the green flag after the safety car period, marking his first-ever laps in the lead in NASCAR. However, the German came under immediate pressure and gradually dropped through the order, crossing the finish line in 17th place. Matthew Ellis then took command and built a sizable lead, but the Briton couldn’t hold it for long. Thomas Toffel overtook the Lux Motorsport driver, who later spun and finished eighth. Toffel led for a time, but Melvin de Groot was charging hard from third.
De Groot, the Dutch powerhouse behind the wheel of the #69 Team Bleekemolen Toyota, first passed reigning champion Martin Doubek before overtaking Toffel to seize the lead. He then pulled away to claim a remarkable victory in what will be remembered as one of the toughest races in NASCAR Euro Series history. Celebrating with his team in victory lane, de Groot danced in the rain, sealing his name in the series winners’ list. He’s now leading the OPEN championship standings five points ahead of Thomas Dombrowski.
“It was an amazing race,” said de Groot, who also topped the Legend Trophy standings, shortly after arriving in Victory Lane. “I couldn’t see anything out there – no visibility at all. I had to come back from, I think, fifth or sixth. Over the radio, they told me to stick to certain lines, so I just focused on following that. I knew I was a bit quicker, so I thought, now’s the time to attack. I’m really happy about this – it took me a few years to get here! Given the conditions, it was tough battling both the car and the drivers around me. To finally get the win feels incredible.”
Toffel crossed the finish line in second place, 7.725 seconds behind the race winner. The Swiss driver focused on keeping his #34 M Racing car clean and gathering crucial points, especially after his heavy crash in Vallelunga. De Groot’s teammate Bruno Mulders claimed third, securing his third podium of the 2025 OPEN season. He also won the race in the Master Trophy for aspiring drivers in the division. Reigning champion Martin Doubek was pushed back to fourth after a penalty for forcing another driver off the track. Thomas Dombrowski completed the top-5, cementing himself as de Groot’s closest rival in the overall standings. The Frenchman ended up second in the Master Trophy ranks ahead of Sandro Tavartkiladze in sixth overall.
Patrick Schober fought back to seventh after losing all practice time on Friday due to an engine failure, showing strong pace in challenging wet conditions. The Austrian outpaced Matthew Ellis and Jordan O’Brien, who scored his first top-10 finish in his NASCAR Euro Series debut at the end of a funambolic drive. Florian Richard rounded out the top-10. In the Legend Trophy, Roberto Benedetti finished second in 12th overall, with Gordon Barnes claiming third in class in 15th overall. Happinessa claimed the Lady Trophy with a 22nd-place finish.
In his first ever NASCAR Euro Series event, O’Brien set the fastest lap and will start Sunday’s OPEN race from pole position. Melvin de Groot now leads both the overall standings and the Legend Trophy for drivers aged 45 and over. Thomas Dombrowski sits second, five points behind the Team Bleekemolen driver, while Patrick Schober is third, seven points off the leader. Martin Doubek and Sandro Tavartkiladze complete the top-5. Thomas Krasonis dropped to sixth after a difficult race that saw him finish 20th due to technical issues.
Due to a blackout caused by heavy rain at Brands Hatch, the facility experienced multiple internet outages. On behalf of the NASCAR Euro Series, we apologize to all fans for the disruptions during the live stream. We are committed to bringing you the best coverage of this eventful and memorable OPEN division race.
After two races full of drama and spectacle on Saturday, NASCAR GP UK still has two more races that will aim to keep up the hype that has been showcased so far. Compared to other rounds in the schedule, PRO Round 06 will go first at 14:10 CEST followed by OPEN Round 06 at 17:35 CEST. All races will be broadcast live on the official EuroNASCAR YouTube channel and TV channels around the world.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
