The NASCAR Euro Series regular season comes to a close at Autodrom Most, with the championship fight tighter than ever – With Playoff positions and the drop score rule on the line, every lap in the Czech Republic will count
- The regular season culminates at Audodrom Most with four sprint races
- Ghirelli and Ercoli set to battle for the championship lead in PRO
- Will Melvin de Groot enter the playoffs as the OPEN leader?
The 2025 NASCAR Euro Series regular season finale is set for Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic on August 30-31, and it’s shaping up to be a pivotal weekend before the double-points Playoffs in Germany and Belgium. Once the NASCAR GP Czech Republic is in the books, all drivers will drop their worst result from the first eight races. With two more races in both the PRO and OPEN Divisions on the line, the battle for the European NASCAR crown is heating up.
The host for the regular season finale is the 4.212-kilometer, 21-turn Autodrom Most. The fast, flowing, and highly technical layout has earned a reputation for producing door-to-door battles and delivering an electric atmosphere. Tens of thousands of fans are expected to pack the grandstands and the grassy hillsides, all under the watchful eye of a historic castle that overlooks the facility. It’s the perfect setting for world-class stock car racing.
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PRO: Two Italians on top
Fresh off his NASCAR Canada Series run at Trois-Rivieres, reigning NASCAR Euro Series champion Vittorio Ghirelli will switch his focus back to defending his European title. The Fasano, Italy, native leads the PRO division with one win and five podiums in six races. But with PK Carsport’s driver holding just a slim advantage, there’s no room to breathe.
Fellow Italian and former series champion Gianmarco Ercoli rediscovered his winning form at Brands Hatch, scoring back-to-back victories with Alumitec Racing to climb back to second. Ghirelli and Ercoli are separated by only six points heading into Most.
Lurking right behind are two hungry challengers tied for third: France’s Paul Jouffreau and Greece’s Thomas Krasonis. Jouffreau, driving the #3 RDV Competition Ford, is already a proven race winner and a constant threat for the crown. Krasonis broke through for his first career PRO win earlier this season at Valencia with PK Carsport, and both sit just 18 points behind Ghirelli. They also lead the Junior Trophy standings for drivers 25 and under.
Team owner/driver Sebastiaan Bleekemolen rounds out the top-5, just 28 points out of the lead. The Dutch veteran has been consistent all year and could very well insert himself into the title mix. Juniors Liam Hezemans (Rette Jones Racing) and Garrett Lowe (Bremotion) are chasing hard, while Vladimiros Tziortzis, Fabrizio Armetta, and Julien Rehberg close out the top-10. Among the elite amateurs in the Challenger Trophy, Claudio Cappelli (14th) and Davit Kajaia (15th) are the top contenders.
OPEN: Who can challenge the giant?
Melvin de Groot is the man to beat in the OPEN Division after breaking through for his first career win in a rain-soaked Brands Hatch thriller. The Team Bleekemolen driver has combined consistency with a breakout performance, giving him momentum and the points lead. De Groot also heads the Legend Trophy standings.
But the challenge is coming strong from two drivers tied for second – two-time champion Martin Doubek and rising star Patrick Schober. Doubek, driving for Hendriks Motorsport, enters his home race under immense pressure, with family, friends, and partners cheering him on at Autodrom Most. Schober, meanwhile, is determined to shake off a little string of bad luck and score his first win of 2025 to show his full potential. Both sit just seven points behind de Groot.
Just 11 points back sits PK Carsport’s Thomas Dombrowski. After a terrifying crash earlier in the year and a heroic overnight rebuild by his Belgian crew, the Master Trophy leader is ready to regroup and make his charge. Krasonis, pulling double duty in both PRO and OPEN this season, sits fifth thanks to two wins. Despite setbacks in Valencia and Brands Hatch, his raw race craft makes him a serious threat.
Four Master Trophy contenders fill positions six through nine: Sandro Tavartkiladze, Bruno Mulders, Florian Richard, and Dominique Schaak. Legend Trophy driver Roberto Benedetti rounds out the top-10. With multiple contenders in the hunt, the OPEN Division remains the most unpredictable battlefield in the Euro Series – and it’s guaranteed to deliver more twists before the Playoffs.
Teams: PK Carsport rules the NASCAR Euro Series
The Endurance Team Championship, combining results from both divisions, is led by PK Carsport thanks to strong seasons from Ghirelli and Dombrowski. But the Belgian powerhouse has little breathing room – Team Bleekemolen’s #69 Toyota sits just three points back. RDV Competition is third, followed by Bremotion’s #99 Chevrolet and Team Georgia by RDV’s #9 Camaro.
Rookie Challenge: The wait is over
After a long summer break, the Rookie Challenge is back in action at Most. Speedhouse driver Jose Penalta has built his lead with three wins in the regularity time-attack division, sitting on top with 153 points. PK Carsport’s Maxim van Laere is second, 18 points back. Just 22 points behind Penalta, Nuno Caetano and Andreas Kuchelbacher are tied for third, with Bruno Mulders completing the top-5.
PRO
A big party for the fans – Czech star Martin Doubek is set for his biggest race of the season, with family, friends, partners and fans packing the stands to cheer him on.
Another local hero – Michal Makes will make his NASCAR debut with Team Bleekemolen in front of his home crowd at Autodrom Most.
A crucial time – After the NASCAR GP Czech Republic, each driver will drop their worst finish, reshaping the championship picture for the 2025 Playoffs.
OPEN
Monegasque makes debut – Speedhouse welcomes Fabrice Pantani to the #14 Ford, while Arianna Casoli continues her recovery from a violent crash in Italy.
Michael Bleekemolen returns to OPEN – After a brief stint with Rette Jones Racing, the 76-year-old will share Team Bleekemolen’s new third entry with Michal Makes.
Jordan O’Brien and Mike Wise – The two Americans are looking to make their mark in the NASCAR Euro Series and continue their climb in the OPEN Division.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner
