Melvin de Groot not only leads the Legend Trophy for drivers aged 45 and over, but also the overall NASCAR Euro Series OPEN championship – The Dutchman scored his maiden NASCAR race win at Brands Hatch
- Melvin de Groot leads both the overall OPEN standings and the Legend Trophy
- The Dutchman scored his maiden OPEN race win at Brands Hatch
- Roberto Benedetti and Claudio Cappelli complete the top-3 in the Legend Trophy
Gentleman drivers are the heart and soul of a Pro-Am championship, and the NASCAR Euro Series’ OPEN division is home to some of the finest in Europe. It’s no coincidence that Melvin de Groot not only tops the Legend Trophy for drivers aged 45 and older but also leads the overall OPEN standings after grabbing his breakthrough win in a rain-soaked showdown at the iconic Brands Hatch Indy Circuit.
Racing for Team Bleekemolen, de Groot joined the series in 2021 and steadily climbed the ranks. His journey includes top-10s, top-5s, podium finishes, multiple Legend Trophy race wins, and back-to-back class titles in 2022 and 2023.
The Legend Trophy provides a competitive arena for gentleman drivers looking to take on one of Europe’s most demanding racing series. Unlike many other championships on the continent, the NASCAR Euro Series features 400-horsepower V8 stock cars with no electronic aids – just pure, raw racing machines. The format rewards preparation, passion, and consistency, allowing drivers to take full control of their own destiny.
De Groot has done his homework. More than just a class leader, he’s emerged as a true contender for the overall OPEN title. With young guns having dominated the category in recent years, the Dutchman could make history as the first Legend Trophy competitor to capture the overall championship. As the series heads into its summer break, the veteran leads the standings by seven points over reigning champion Martin Doubek and Austria’s Patrick Schober.
Legend Trophy drivers are consistently mixing it up inside the top-10 overall. Second in the class and tenth in the overall standings is Roberto Benedetti in the #88 CAAL Racing Chevrolet. Reigning Legend Trophy champion Claudio Cappelli sits third in class and twelfth overall. The Italian, who wheels the #5 Academy / Caffi Motorsport Ford, has been plagued by bad luck in 2025, but with one dropped result after the regular season and double points on the line in the playoffs, Cappelli could still mount a serious challenge for the title.
Just a single point behind Cappelli is Sven van Laere, who returned to racing in 2025 while also supporting his son Maxim’s first NASCAR campaign in the Rookie Challenge. Rounding out the top-5 is Kenko Miura ahead of Giovanni Faraonio, Gordon Barnes, and veteran racer Michael Bleekemolen.
In a sport still largely dominated by men, female drivers deserve their moment in the spotlight. Happinessa currently leads the Lady Trophy after the series’ winningest woman, Arianna Casoli, was sidelined from the Brands Hatch rounds due to injuries sustained in a crash at Vallelunga. The German driver, who sits 17th in the overall standings, made a powerful statement on the podium at Brands Hatch by wearing a shirt in support of Casoli. The message was clear: trophies mean more when there’s another strong woman to race for them.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
