Giovanni Cartechini thrived in the NASCAR Euro Series once he applied his strong business philosophy to the race track – The Italian was surprised at his strong results and aims to raise the bar from race after race
- Giovanni Cartechini was taken back by how fast he adapted to V8GP
- The Italian is in the hunt for the overall Challenger Trophy title
- Cartechini recognized the shared philosophy needed to be successful in business and racing
There are multiple paths for a driver to join the NASCAR Euro Series, but have you seen someone give European NASCAR racing a try due to their involvement as a sponsor? That was the path that Giovanni Cartechini took to the 2026 V8GP season after he was thrilled by the adrenaline rush when he visited the paddock as a representative of the Cartechini-family business HPM, which has been sponsoring the Italian powerhouse CAAL Racing since 2024. Now competing for the very same team, the Recanati native has risen as one of the main contenders in the Challenger Trophy and saw that success in both business and racing required the same mindset.
Cartechini’s initial goal for his debut year was to simply enjoy the experience. It was a reasonable goal for the Italian, who jumped to the powerful NASCAR machines after only a year of learning in the Italian Legend Cars championship. However, a Challenger Trophy podium finish at his debut in Spain was an eye opening moment for Cartechini. The immediate success made him realize that the sky is not just the limit.
“Before the season started, my only real goal was to gain experience and have fun,” said Cartechini. “Then came the NASCAR GP Spain, and everything shifted. When I realized that I could actually fight for strong results right on the track, I was blown away. That realization gave me the boost to raise the bar, race after race. I’m extremely happy with our progress so far, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to relax for the rest of the championship. On the contrary, appetite comes with eating so the goal now is to be more and more competitive.”
The 29-year old has since collected four more Challenger Trophy podiums, confirming his consistency as an elite amateur. He’s only 11 points behind overall class leader Logan Bearden in the standings after three events. But it wasn’t just the Trophy results that has led fans to take notice of Cartechini. They also recognized his rapid adaptability: to be this competitive on his debut in V8GP, where the cars are built with little driving aids in mind, was simply miraculous.
“Moving from the hospitality lounge to the cockpit was an instant transition!” stated the Italian. “To be honest, my only real fear was that I’d never want to get back out of the car, because I knew I would fall in love with driving these racing beasts. Once you’re buckled in, it’s a massive mix of emotions: pure adrenaline, the anxiety of making mistakes, laser focus, and raw grit. But the moment the green light drops, everything else fades away. From then on, every ounce of energy is focused on staying in the zone, managing your pace, fighting wheel-to-wheel, and bringing the car home.”
Of course, his success on the race tracks didn’t come in an instant. For the Italian, his secret came from his experience working in the family business HPM, the heavy machinery company that he is involved in as the Sales & Commissioning Specialist – alongside his father and three brothers. He discovered that the mindset that HPM set for its daily operations can also be applied to the world of motorsport. The shared philosophies between the two disciplines is therefore a perfect match for a competitive minded racer like Cartechini.
“The HPM motto, written in bold letters in our corporate constitution, is: ‘Do it right to thrive’ [‘Si fa bene per stare bene’],” explained Cartechini. “It’s the principle that guides us every single day. Every member does their part so that they, and everyone around them, can thrive. Doing your job well means handing over a flawless project to the next person in line, leaving no ‘nasty surprises’ behind. It means asking questions, giving feedback, and sharing advice so that an excellent product leaves the factory floor seamlessly, making the immense effort behind it look effortless. It’s all about creating synergy in the workplace.”
“When I stepped into the NASCAR Euro Series paddock, I found that exact same philosophy. It’s not just the harmony and mutual support between drivers and mechanics that strikes you, but the ecosystem built for businesses. In the NASCAR Euro Series, sponsors aren’t just passive spectators; it’s a genuine networking platform where you can shake hands, exchange contacts, or connect with clients right in the boxes or up in the grandstands. For HPM, investing here isn’t just marketing, it’s partnering with a culture that mirrors our exact corporate values.”
The combination of methodical precision and application of cutthroat business philosophy made Cartechini one of the most intriguing additions to the NASCAR Euro Series. The Italian has the right mindset to reach unprecedented heights on his new adventure and with the mentorship of legendary team manager Luca Canneori, Cartechini is destined for great things as one of the top elite amateurs in the official European NASCAR championship.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner
