Vittorio Ghirelli, Paul Jouffreau, and Gianmarco Ercoli have emerged as the leading contenders for the 2025 NASCAR Euro Series PRO championship
- Vittorio Ghirelli wants to defend the NASCAR Euro Series crown
- Paul Jouffreau is hungry to win his maiden PRO title
- Gianmarco Ercoli set to fight for his second championship win
The 2025 NASCAR Euro Series season is set to conclude with a thrilling finale at Circuit Zolder in Belgium on October 11-12. In the highly competitive PRO championship, Europe’s premier NASCAR division, only 18 points separate the top-3 contenders. Defending champion Vittorio Ghirelli currently leads the standings, after a drama-filled playoff opener at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben in Germany. That event saw a contentious clash between Ghirelli and Gianmarco Ercoli, who now sits third. Paul Jouffreau capitalized on that, moving into second place overall. Let’s take a look at the top-3 drivers.
Vittorio Ghirelli
The 31-year-old Fasano native, a fixture in the NASCAR Euro Series paddock since 2019, clinched the OPEN championship in 2020. He swiftly ascended through the ranks, immediately becoming a championship contender in the PRO division. The reigning champion, driving for PK Carsport – the team owned by two-time NASCAR Euro Series winner Anthony Kumpen – found his way to victory lane in 2024.
Ghirelli’s extensive background in auto racing could be the deciding factor in the 2025 championship battle. The 31-year-old began his professional career in open-wheel racing, competing in series like GP3, Formula Renault, and Italian F3. However, his focus was never confined to European circuits, as he ventured overseas early on to race, including in the 2010 Brazilian F3 Championship.
Ghirelli competed in Formula 2 and GP2, the closest feeder series to Formula 1. He also won the AutoGP title in 2013 and moved to the IndyLights series, a feeder championship for the IndyCar Series, in 2014. In 2015, Ghirelli transitioned to touring cars, participating in the Renault Sport trophy before entering the NASCAR Euro Series in 2019, where he has enjoyed the longest tenure of his varied and successful racing career.
Ghirelli is poised to clinch his second NASCAR Euro Series championship. He’s in peak physical condition with a proven team backing him, and he navigates pressure with unmatched composure. Known for his steely resolve, he’s determined to become a multi-time European NASCAR champion. Will this cool and formidable competitor once again hoist the championship trophy?
Paul Jouffreau
At just 21 years old, Paul Jouffreau has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the NASCAR Euro Series PRO division. Hailing from Blaye, France, Jouffreau is undeniably one of the brightest talents to emerge from European NASCAR racing. He made a direct leap from karting into NASCAR, fearlessly taming a 400 horsepower, 5.7-liter V8 with no electronic driving aids. Much like Ghirelli, he steadily progressed through the ranks, moving from the OPEN division to PRO.
In 2023, Jouffreau teamed up with RDV Competition, immediately tackling a part-time PRO schedule while fully committing to his OPEN campaign. His learning curve was incredibly steep, and his performance nothing short of outstanding. Jouffreau battled YouTube sensation Alberto Naska in a tremendous fight to claim the title, simultaneous even scoring victories in NASCAR’s elite European division, the PRO championship.
Already a title contender in 2024, Jouffreau, always full of energy, is hungry to become a NASCAR champion. He trails Ghirelli by a mere four points and has already notched two wins in the 2025 season. With double points up for grabs and the experienced crew of RDV Competition in his corner, the Frenchman has a singular focus: conquer Circuit Zolder, clinch the championship, and hoist that prestigious Tijey Trophy high.
Gianmarco Ercoli
Winning titles in the NASCAR Euro Series is no easy feat, and the career of this Roman warrior is a testament to that. Back in 2014, Ercoli burst onto the NASCAR Euro Series scene, quickly becoming a legend thanks to his unwavering determination, passion, and skill. In 2015, Ercoli clinched the OPEN championship, a victory that paved his way to the PRO roster. He’s been a staple of the CAAL Racing family since the very beginning, but from 2015 to 2019, Ercoli wheeled for Double T and Racers Motorsports before making his return to the Canneori family.
Ercoli grabbed a major milestone in his career, becoming the first OPEN champion to conquer a PRO race in 2018 at the legendary Brands Hatch. But the now 30-year-old was hungry for more. The Roman ace had his sights set on being the best, the one hoisting that big NASCAR trophy. He just had to bide his time, waiting for the perfect opportunity. That moment finally arrived in 2023 when he snatched the championship with CAAL Racing, winning in the final seconds of a thrilling season.
It was the most controversial championship finale in the history of NASCAR in Europe. In the final race, championship contender Lucas Lasserre and Gianmarco Ercoli’s half-brother, Mario Ercoli, clashed. The contact sent Lasserre spinning, costing him valuable positions. Ultimately, Ercoli, who had a disastrous Saturday race, made a remarkable comeback. The bonus points for gaining the most positions – eight markers due to double points – proved to be the deciding factor, and the Italian was declared the champion.
Now, Ercoli aims for his second title with the Canadian team Alumtec Racing. CAAL Racing is throwing its full support behind Alain Lord Mounir’s Canadian NASCAR team, and Ercoli knows that every second counts in the championship battle. Heading into Zolder, he’s trailing Ghirelli by 18 points in the standings. Ercoli is a fighter who uses brute force to reach his goals.
The dark horses
Ghirelli and Ercoli were already bumping fenders at the NASCAR GP Germany in Oschersleben. Every split-second decision could turn the championship battle on its head in the blink of an eye. With the stakes so high, there are some dark horses lurking in the shadows, ready to capitalize on any mistake from the top-3 and muscle their way into contention for the European NASCAR crown – a title drivers truly have to fight tooth and nail for, unlike any other racing championship out there.
Currently sitting fourth overall is Bremotion’s Garrett Lowe, a hybrid racer, an eNASCAR sim racer, and now an European real-world NASCAR rookie. Fresh off two podium finishes in the PRO division, the American is second in the Junior Trophy, trailing only Jouffreau. He’s also got a shot at the overall championship if he can take that next step and score his maiden NASCAR win in a real-world race at Circuit Zolder. His current deficit to leader Ghirelli? Just 48 points.
Coming in nine points back is Thomas Krasonis, teammate to Ghirelli at PK Carsport. The 23-year-old Greek driver, whose career began in 2019, has patiently climbed the ranks, showing steady improvement. The 2025 season marks a turning point for the Athens native, with a PRO race win and a lead in the OPEN standings. So, if the top-3 contenders find themselves in another tangle at Zolder, why shouldn’t Krasonis be a dark horse for the PRO championship?
Just eight points back, we find Oschersleben race winner Liam Hezemans and Sebastiaan Bleekemolen, tied in points. These two Dutchmen are proven forces in the NASCAR Euro Series and are still hoping for a shot at the title, but both will need a miracle to happen in the woods of Limburg. Who will be crowned the 2025 NASCAR Euro Series champion? We’ll find out on October 11-12 with two more double-points PRO races scheduled at one of Europe’s most legendary racetracks.
