Vittorio Ghirelli has inked a new deal with PK Carsport, setting his sights on an unprecedented third consecutive PRO championship title – The Italian ace is ready to write a new chapter in the Euro Series history books
- Vittorio Ghirelli will defend his title with PK Carsport in the 2026 NASCAR Euro Series season
- The back-to-back champion is geared up to make history
- The Fasano native describes PK Carsport and the series as a true family
With 15 race wins, 20 pole positions, 27 podiums, and 40 top-5 finishes in the NASCAR Euro Series PRO championship, Vittorio Ghirelli stands as one of Europe’s premier talents. The 2024 and 2025 champion is roaring back for the 2026 PRO season with PK Carsport, the team he calls home. He will once again pilot the #24 Chevrolet Camaro, aiming to become the first driver ever to secure three straight championships.
Ghirelli brought a wealth of open-wheel experience, including an AutoGP title and runs in Formula 2 and IndyLights, before making the successful transition to touring cars. He claimed the 2020 OPEN championship, a springboard that launched him into European NASCAR’s elite PRO category. He immediately became a title contender, clinching his maiden championship ring in 2024 with PK Carsport in dominant fashion.
The 2025 season was a hard-fought battle, but Ghirelli delivered a masterful sweep during the Finals at Circuit Zolder in Belgium. His performance solidified his status as a multiple NASCAR Euro Series champion, beating out rivals like Paul Jouffreau and arch-rival Gianmarco Ercoli. He joined an exclusive list of multiple champions, including Alon Day (4), Ander Vilarino (3), PK Carsport team boss Anthony Kumpen (2), and Loris Hezemans (2). While Day and Vilarino achieved back-to-back championships, the three-peat remains the ultimate, yet unclaimed, prize – until now.
The 31-year-old stated: “The NASCAR Euro Series and PK Carsport are a family. I’m really proud to compete in this high-level championship, and I will go for the third ring in a row. It will be a battle, but we’re here for the fight and not scared of anyone, bring it on!” Ghirelli has earned the moniker “the Iceman of NASCAR in Europe,” the cool, humble Italian fortified by his fans, family, friends, and an experienced team – a potent combination primed to set a new historical benchmark.
Anthony Kumpen, the PK Carsport Team Boss, only offers the highest praise for Ghirelli’s professionalism and race craft in the NASCAR Euro Series car: “He did an amazing job last year. It was the second championship with our team, so we’re double champions. Same like with Alon Day, he was a double champion in our team, and myself, I was double champion in our team.”
PK Carsport, a dominant force in European NASCAR for decades, remains driven by the pursuit of victory. “Vittorio showed a lot of maturity in his driving, in his skills and everything,” Kumpen continued. “You know, like the situation which happened at Brands Hatch, where unfortunately, due to a failure, the car was damaged in the OPEN category. And then he didn’t have a lot of track time, but still, he stayed calm; he made the best possible out of the weekend.”
“That’s champion worthy; if you can do that, if you can stay calm during those weekends and then still grab important points. That’s very good. Also, in terms of racing skills, I think he was doing better last season than the seasons before, even in the season before where he was champion. But last season, in some race situations, he really made good steps. And it’s not easy, you know, being the reigning champion and grabbing the title again; there’s a lot of pressure on you.”
“So I’m really happy with what he did last year, and I’m really happy he’s staying with us,” the Belgian emphasized. “It’s always PK Carsport as a family team, you know, I’m very close with the mechanics, even if I’m the team boss, they are my friends. I’m very close with the engineers, and I’m also very close with the drivers. And the Ghirelli family, his dad, his mother, his brother, his fiancée, they spend a lot of time with the team, and they really understand the atmosphere of PK Carsport.”
“And that’s what makes the results even better. Because if you integrate well in a team, the team works well for you, and everything goes smoothly. And that’s how you create champions. And I think that’s where we performed all together even better in his second championship than in his first. So obviously, as double champion, the goal is to be champion again, but it’s always difficult. You know, there are youngsters; there are other drivers who also perform well, other teams who want to beat PK Carsport.”
“And also, his teammates also grew a lot. Krasonis had a great season last year with us, and he’s also a contender for the PRO title. So yeah, it will be a very interesting season for us as a team, with two cars fighting in the PRO for the wins and for the championship. So I’m looking forward to another great NASCAR Euro Series season and trying to be on top again. But I’m sure the other teams are also ready to try to kick our ass.”
The 2026 NASCAR Euro Series season drops the green flag on April 18-19 at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. This event will serve as the first true test and benchmark for what fans can expect atop the PRO standings. The Champion is back, and despite two championship rings already on his fingers, he is here to hunt, dominate, and write history.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
