Robin Bleekemolen took wins in the Lady Trophy on her NASCAR Euro Series OPEN debut in the UK – The third generation Bleekemolen family racer immediately established herself as a future talent to watch
- Robin Bleekemolen dominated the Lady Trophy in her OPEN debut
- Bleekemolen finished in the top-10 in both NASCAR GP UK races
- The newcomer performed competitively against veterans of the championship
An exciting new talent is blossoming onto the scene after an impressive debut in the OPEN division. Robin Bleekemolen followed the footsteps of her father Sebastiaan and her grandfather Michael by joining the NASCAR Euro Series and at the 2026 NASCAR GP UK, she wowed fans around the globe with her performance behind the wheel of the #76 Team Bleekemolen Toyota Camry. Competing as a substitute for Michael, Robin fought her way into the top-10 positions and swept the Lady Trophy, showcasing remarkable maturity at her first competitive event in the official European NASCAR championship.
Bleekemolen had been gaining experience in Rookie Challenge since 2025 and learned how to maintain consistent lap times, but OPEN demands more than that. The third generation talent needed to battle for the same piece of tarmac with more than 20 other drivers and the level of competition was high: Everyone was battling for not only the same overall standings, but also for the Trophies.
Bleekemolen was eligible for the Lady Trophy, which had an elite cast featuring overall Trophy leader and former W Series star Beitske Visser, reigning class winner Happinessa and rising Georgian youngster Mariam Davitidze, who all had already competed for the Trophy supremacy in Spain and France. Adding to the challenge for Bleekemolen was the weather: The infamous British weather opened the floodgates for Round 5 while Round 6 was a duel in sunny conditions.
The odds were stacked against Bleekemolen, but she delivered a true masterclass. Bleekemolen performed like a veteran and adapted beautifully to the differing demands of both the OPEN division and the weather conditions. She not only battled her way to the top-10 in both rounds, she also secured the two wins in the Lady Trophy. It was proof that the Bleekemolen family has their next generation talent prepared for a bright future in the sport.
“My first weekend in the NASCAR Euro Series OPEN division was a very special experience,” said Bleekemolen. “I was definitely a bit nervous going into the event because this wasn’t a Rookie Challenge event anymore, it was real racing. Brands Hatch is also a very demanding circuit. It’s short, very technical, and with the English weather you always have to be prepared for changing conditions.”
“The results were already beyond my expectations, but in the Lady Trophy I was especially pleased. I hoped to finish on the podium, but I certainly didn’t expect to beat such an experienced and successful driver as Beitske Visser. That was a really nice surprise and something I am very proud of. Overall, it was a fantastic weekend and honestly it went better than I could have imagined. The experience has made me even more motivated to continue developing as a driver. I want to race as much as possible and I’m completely hooked on NASCAR now. This feels like the beginning of something exciting, and hopefully an important step towards the future.”
As things stand, Bleekemolen is preparing for the third bout of Rookie Challenge at Autodrom Most – the site of her NASCAR Euro Series debut in 2025. The return to a familiar venue will help Bleekemolen to further develop her talents, but she is not crossing out the possibility of more OPEN appearances in 2026. Would we see Bleekemolen fight for more Lady Trophy success? Keep yourself updated to the NASCAR Euro Series website and social media accounts for the latest updates from the highly rated Dutch talent!
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner
