Nelson Piquet Jr. stormed onto the podium in his second NASCAR Euro Series V8GP race – Alex Caffi shared an emotional story about racing Piquet Jr. at Circuit Ricardo Tormo
- In his second NASCAR Euro Series race, Nelson Piquet Jr. climbed the podium
- The Brazilian ended up third in Sunday NASCAR GP Spain at Valencia
- Alex Caffi shared an unique story about racing Piquet Jr. in the series now
On a weekend where the sun-drenched Ricardo Tormo Circuit served as the backdrop for a collision of racing eras, Nelson Piquet Jr. stood on the NASCAR Euro Series podium with the dirt of a hard-fought battle on his firesuit. For the former Formula One driver and Formula E champion, his third-place finish in Sunday’s V8GP was more than just a trophy – it was a survival course in a series that demands as much respect as it does horsepower.
Despite a career that has spanned the heights of Formula 1 and the door-to-door intensity of the NASCAR Truck and O’Reilly Series, Piquet Jr. was refreshingly blunt about the mountain he and his new team are currently climbing.
“It was a tough race, I must say that,” Piquet Jr. admitted. “We’re still struggling; you know, it’s a new team, everybody trying to understand each other. Myself, trying to understand the regulation and how everything works. It’s a process, you know?”
While many fans see the heavy metal of the NASCAR Euro Series as raw and analog, Piquet Jr. highlighted the intricate chess match happening inside the cockpit. For a driver who has navigated the technical wizardry of Formula E and the high-speed ovals of America, the European circuit offers a unique, visceral challenge.
“Even though I’ve driven many different cars, sometimes it’s not only about the car; it’s about the procedure, the regulations, you know, how these tires work, how hot they can get,” Piquet explained. “I mean, it’s a lot of things which, as we are a new team, we don’t have that much information to jump a few steps.”
After a Saturday incident cut his weekend short early, Sunday provided the vital data needed to turn the new Alumitec Racing team into a contender. Piquet noted that the limit of the machine is found where the rubber meets the road: “That’s one of the most important features in any race car is knowing what’s the limit of the tire and using it at its best.”
The Piquet presence in the paddock did more than just tighten the competition; it stirred up memories for fellow veteran Alex Caffi. The former F1 driver shared a remarkable story of how his career has become inextricably linked with the Piquet family tree.
“Yes, it’s a story because basically, I raced with his father,” Caffi remarked, recalling his F1 days from 1987 to 1992 against Nelson Piquet Sr. “And the second part of the story is that I also raced in 2015 in a formula race in Brazil against the brother of Nelson, Geraldo Piquet. And finally, I’m here and racing against Nelson’s son! So it’s three Piquets: the father, the brother and the son.”
Caffi, who describes the Piquets as “part of the Caffi family,” credited the series’ growth to the tireless efforts of Jerome Galpin, noting that the arrival of names like Piquet validates the “big, big effort” to elevate the category over the last decade. For Piquet Jr., the focus isn’t on the rearview mirror, but on building a powerhouse alongside teammates Gianmarco Ercoli and Raphael Lessard. He isn’t just looking for a seat; he’s looking for a culture.
“What any driver looks for is a good team and wanting to win races. Doesn’t matter if it’s a go-kart, Formula 1, or NASCAR car,” Piquet Jr. said. “I’m going to help Alain to really build this and make this into a successful team. I was born in a racetrack basically, so I feel that, you know, we can combine a bit of energy and build this together.”
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner
