Julien Rehberg wants to become a true powerhouse in the NASCAR Euro Series V8GP championship – The young German is no longer satisfied with just running in the top-10; he’s hunting for silverware and podium glory
- In his third year of NASCAR racing, Julien Rehberg has firmly established himself in the premier division
- The German has become a consistent top-10 threat behind the wheel for Rehberg + Bremotion Racing
- Now, he’s ready to step up his game and transform into a legitimate title contender
At only 20 years old, Julien Rehberg has cemented his place in the top-10 of the grueling, hyper-competitive, and paint-trading NASCAR Euro Series V8GP championship with Rehberg + Bremotion Racing. The young German kicked off his third NASCAR season in Valencia, marking his second year competing in the sport’s top-tier division. Having already proved that he can hold his own against a stacked field, the Haltern am See native is ready to elevate his program and become a fixture in the top-5 against some of the biggest names in motorsports.
“Of course, I’m happy to show what I’m capable of,” he said. “I’m really pleased with the top-5 finish in Valencia. However, I’ve set my own goals very high by now – I’m no longer satisfied with a 10th-place finish. I want to be right up there at the front and, from now on, I’m aiming for at least a top-5 spot. Anything less wouldn’t be a successful weekend for me anymore.”
Two top-10s and a standout top-5 finish across the first six rounds have catapulted the 20-year-old right into the mix with Europe’s elite NASCAR drivers. Sitting ninth in the standings as the series heads into the summer break, Rehberg’s trajectory is impressive – but the young gun is hungry for more, especially as he battles door-to-door with heavyweight champions like Vittorio Ghirelli, Gianmarco Ercoli, and former F1 and U.S. NASCAR racer Nelson Piquet Jr.
“It is a great honor for me to share the track with drivers like that,” said the German. “When you then realize you can actually keep up with them, it feels really amazing. That gives me a massive mental boost and makes me look forward to the next race even more.” But Rehberg isn’t just out there to turn laps with them; he wants to out-duel the best and stamp his own name at the top of the leaderboard.
That’s why the young driver isn’t backing off the gas during the summer break. “During my summer break, I will definitely prepare intensively for Most,” he explained. “I’ll spend a lot of time training in the simulator and also hit the sauna more often so that the heat inside the car doesn’t bother me anymore and I can become even stronger under those conditions.”
He’s also putting in the sweat equity to understand the 400-horsepower V8 beast he tames every race weekend. “Because I now prepare my car together with my mechanic, I’m learning an incredible amount of new things about the vehicle. I understand more and more how everything works, and it’s a ton of fun. These days, I’m even lying under the car during race weekends myself, wrenching on it. In fact, I almost enjoy it as much as driving sometimes.”
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner
