Paul Jouffreau continued to show his status as one of the fastest young drivers in NASCAR Euro Series – The Frenchman is contesting for the PRO title with RDV Competition after winning the OPEN title together
- Paul Jouffreau is the Junior Trophy champion of 2025
- The Frenchman joined the NASCAR Euro Series in 2021 in Rookie Challenge
- Jouffreau won the OPEN title in 2023 as the driver of RDV Competition
Paul Jouffreau continues to prove himself as one of the most exciting young drivers in the NASCAR Euro Series. The Frenchman blossomed on the scene in 2023 when he won the OPEN championship and became the youngest PRO winner at the age of 19 years old. He followed it up by winning the Junior Trophy championship two times in 2024 and 2025, having also contested the overall PRO title right to the end. How did the Blaye native quickly rise up the NASCAR Europe ladder? Let’s recap his story from the start.
Where Jouffreau Ignited His Racing Passion
Jouffreau’s love for racing began when he was three years old and he was introduced to Formula 1 by his family. The Frenchman grew up playing racing games in his childhood as a result and at the age of 12, he entered his first karting competition and made an immediate first impression.
“Since I was three years old, I’ve watched every Formula 1 Grand Prix with my father,” said Jouffreau on his upbringing. “When I turned five, I was allowed to play on the PlayStation 2. I spent countless hours on simulators, first on Gran Turismo with the PlayStation 2, then with Formula 1 games on the PlayStation 3. At some point, we decided to buy a small steering wheel for the console, and from that moment, I couldn’t let it go.”
“At the age of 12, which is considered quite late in motorsport, I tried karting for the first time and entered my very first competition. Out of 25 drivers, I finished fifth and we realized I probably needed to get into racing more seriously.”
Realizing his potential, Jouffreau started a karting career and scored several impressive results. “In 2018, I became French champion in that category,” explained Jouffreau. “In 2019, I moved up again, this time into the X30 IAME Senior class. In my very first race there, I started 25th and went on to win. After that result, we thought it was time to aim for a higher-level championship.”
Jouffreau Discovers the NASCAR Euro Series
His ambition to move to a bigger championship led Jouffreau to the NASCAR Euro Series, where he made his debut in Rookie Challenge in 2021. The regularity based division is the perfect place for newcomers to learn about the Pure Racing NASCAR machines and after a solid first year, he made his move to the OPEN division in 2022. A maiden podium in Italy was secured, but as he says difficulties led Jouffreau to find a new home for 2023: RDV Competition.
The move to RDV Competition paid dividends. Jouffreau scored his first career victory in Italy and scored two more wins in Germany and Belgium. The Frenchman was also a regular fixture in the top-5 positions, culminating in his crowning as the OPEN champion after a fantastic Finals showdown with Vladimiros Tziortzis at Circuit Zolder.
“During a karting event, I was noticed by a EuroNASCAR driver who also ran a team,” said Jouffreau on how he joined the NASCAR Euro Series. “He offered me the chance to compete in the Rookie Challenge and later a full season of EuroNASCAR. I tested the EuroNASCAR car for the first time in November 2020, and I immediately fell in love with it. My Rookie Challenge season went very well, but in my first season in OPEN in 2022, my relationship with my team was very difficult to handle. So by the end of that year, after a first season with some good results despite the struggles, we decided to change teams.”
“That’s how I was introduced to RDV Competition. From the moment I joined, I was blown away: A proper engineer with Formula 1 experience, and a car that was truly built for me. The connection clicked right away, and we immediately became competitive. In my very first season with RDV Competition, we won the OPEN championship.”
Becoming the Junior Trophy Champion in PRO
The year Jouffreau won the OPEN title with RDV Competition, he also made his first steps in the PRO division. Debuting in his happy hunting ground Italy, the Blaye native was competitive right from the get go: He grabbed his maiden PRO podium on his very first race and it only took him four races to win in PRO, becoming the division’s youngest race winner at the age of 19.
Therefore, when Jouffreau made the jump to PRO full-time in 2024, he was ready to fight for not just the Junior Trophy special classification, but also the overall title. The Frenchman proved his readiness by finishing second in the standings, clinching the Junior Trophy title and finishing just eight points away from 2024 champions Vittorio Ghirelli. Jouffreau was again a primary championship contender in 2025, and when the checkered flag dropped in Belgium he was crowned as the Junior Trophy champion for the second time.
“In 2024, we came in with the ambition to fight for the championship,” said Jouffreau. “Despite setbacks like an engine failure while leading at Brands Hatch, we were always in contention for wins. We were consistently at the front all season long. Even after such a strong 2024 campaign, we continued to make progress with RDV Competition in 2025. Step by step, we kept improving, and my journey as a racing driver has been built on this constant drive to grow, overcome challenges, and fight for victories.”
Jouffreau is certain to fight for more championship opportunities in the years to come. With the support of his family, friends and sponsors, the future is bright for the talented Frenchman. “If I had to summarize myself as a driver, I’d say I competed through the love and passion of everyone who followed me so closely,” sums up Jouffreau. “Without them, I simply wouldn’t be racing. I often say that without my family, friends and sponsors, I’d probably just be watching the races from the couch.”
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner
