Three generations of the Bleekemolen-dynasty are racing in the NASCAR Euro Series – The Dutch team wants to write history in the best touring car series in Europe
- Team Bleekemolen wants to attack after the summer break to improve results
- Three generations of Bleekemolen-drivers praise the NASCAR Euro Series
- Their goal is to make NASCAR in Europe more popular in the Netherlands
Across the globe, motorsports is largely driven by fresh engineering, deep budgets, and relentless evolution. But inside the garage of Team Bleekemolen in the NASCAR Euro Series, the strongest currency remains family lineage and pure, unassisted grit. Navigating a strong 2026 campaign, the Dutch squad features a storyline entirely unique to international racing: three generations sharing the same paddock, battling on the same circuits, and building a foundation that links the sport’s veteran past to its next generation.
The opening stretch of the 2026 campaign hasn’t been a smooth cruise for Team Bleekemolen. Mechanical gremlins and mid-race incidents have disrupted their rhythm, leaving the team hunting for the finishes their raw pace warrants. Yet inside the hauler, confidence hasn’t wavered.
“It’s true that the first half of the season has been frustrating at times,” admitted team owner and driver Sebastiaan Bleekemolen. “We have had our fair share of technical issues and setbacks, which prevented us from showing our true potential. But at the same time, we know the speed is there. When everything comes together, we can fight much closer to the front than the results currently suggest. The positive thing is that the team never stops working. Everyone is pushing hard, both at the track and back in the workshop. We have learned a lot during the first three events and I believe the second half of the season can be much stronger for us.”
For Sebastiaan Bleekemolen, managing the operation is about more than just reading telemetry and adjusting setup configurations or tire pressures; it’s about pushing the sport forward in non-traditional territory.
“For us, NASCAR in Europe is much more than just racing,” Sebastiaan Bleekemolen explained. “We see it as a fantastic platform to combine competition, entertainment and driver development. Our goal is to keep growing Team Bleekemolen and help promote the championship to a wider audience, especially in the Netherlands. We want to continue bringing young talent into the series, while also staying competitive ourselves. Having drivers from different generations and backgrounds in the team creates a unique story. Looking ahead, I would love to see the NASCAR Euro Series continue to grow internationally, attract larger grids and gain even more media exposure. The racing is fantastic and it deserves a bigger audience.”
At the center of this dynamic stands Michael Bleekemolen, the family patriarch whose career spans decades of high-level international motorsport including Formula One. At an age when most drivers have long since hung up their helmets, the 76-year-old remains a fixture behind the wheel, driven purely by the thrill of wheel-to-wheel combat.
“People ask me that question every year,” Michael laughed when asked about his continued drive to strap in every weekend. “The simple answer is that I still enjoy it. As long as I enjoy getting into the car, working with the team and competing against talented drivers, I see no reason to stop. NASCAR Euro Series is a fantastic championship with close racing and a great atmosphere in the paddock. I still love the challenge of learning circuits, improving the car and trying to get the best result possible. The day I stop enjoying it, I’ll stop racing. But fortunately that day hasn’t arrived yet.”
Standing in the pit lane alongside his son and granddaughter Robin is a milestone Michael Bleekemolen reflects on with clear emotion.
“It makes me incredibly proud,” Michael Bleekemolen said. “When I started racing, I could never have imagined that one day I would be competing in the same championship as my sons and my granddaughter. Seeing Sebastiaan running the team, racing himself and helping develop young drivers, while Robin is now taking her first steps in NASCAR, is something very special. Of course, results are important, but what makes me happiest is seeing the passion for motorsport continue through the generations. We all love racing and being able to share that together is something I really appreciate.”
The newest chapter of the Bleekemolen saga belongs to sixteen-year-old Robin Bleekemolen. Making her OPEN debut this season, she wasted little time proving that her seat in the championship was earned, not just inherited. Throwing her car into the tight, unforgiving turns of Brands Hatch, she delivered a breakout performance by scoring a top-10 overall finish and claiming two Lady Trophy victories.
“It was definitely exciting and a little bit nerve-wracking,” Robin recalled of her debut. “Testing is one thing, but racing against a full field is something completely different. Especially at a circuit like Brands Hatch, where everything happens very quickly and there is very little room for mistakes. Once the lights went out, though, I quickly settled into the race. The team gave me a great car and a lot of confidence, which helped enormously. After the first few laps I was mainly focused on doing my own race, learning as much as possible and staying out of trouble. To finish my first NASCAR races, score a top-10 finish and win the Lady Trophy twice made it a weekend I’ll never forget.”
Out-dueling established international stars like Beitske Visser gave Robin an early taste of success, but her focus remains strictly on the bigger picture.
“Winning the Lady Trophy twice was obviously a fantastic feeling, especially considering the level of competition,” Robin Bleekemolen noted. “Racing against Beitske Visser, who is one of the most successful and experienced female racing drivers in motorsport, makes those results even more special. To come away with two Lady Trophy wins during my first NASCAR weekend is something I’m very proud of.”
“That said, my focus is not only on the Lady Trophy. My main goal is to keep improving as a driver and move further up the overall classification. This season is all about learning, gaining experience and understanding the car and the championship better. Looking ahead, I would love to continue racing in NASCAR and keep building my experience. Long term, I want to see how far I can go within the NASCAR ladder and continue developing myself as a racing driver. Right now, every lap is a learning opportunity and I’m enjoying every minute of it.”
Her development hasn’t gone unnoticed by her father or her grandfather.
“One thing that is particularly important to me this season is Robin’s development,” Sebastiaan Bleekemolen said. “She’s only sixteen years old and made her NASCAR debut this year. The results are nice, but what impresses me most is how mature and professional she has been. She keeps learning every weekend, works closely with the team and continues to improve. At the same time, I want to thank everyone involved in Team Bleekemolen. It’s been a challenging season so far, but the commitment and dedication from our crew has been incredible. Without that effort, none of this would be possible.”
When asked whether Robin will retain her seat in the OPEN division moving forward, Michael Bleekemolen offered high praise wrapped in practical reality.
“First of all, I’m very happy to hear that she wants to continue,” Michael said. “Robin has done a fantastic job so far. As a grandfather I’m probably not completely objective, but I think she’s doing a pretty good job. She approached her NASCAR debut in a very professional way and has shown that she belongs on the grid. Of course, motorsport is never only about desire. There are practical and financial considerations as well. But from a sporting perspective, she has certainly shown enough potential to deserve more opportunities. The most important thing is that she keeps developing, gaining experience and enjoying the process. If she continues like this, I think the future looks very promising.”
For Robin Bleekemolen, having two generations of wisdom just a few pit bays away is an invaluable asset in a series where driver feel reigns supreme over electronic aids.
“The racing itself [is the best part],” Robin said. “The competition is incredibly close and you really have to fight for every position. I enjoy that challenge a lot. I also love the atmosphere in the paddock. Everyone is passionate about racing and the NASCAR Euro Series has a very friendly and accessible environment. As a young driver, it’s a great place to learn because you’re surrounded by experienced drivers and teams every weekend. Another thing I really enjoy is that the cars require the driver to make a difference. There are no electronic driving aids to rely on, so you really have to understand what the car is doing and how to get the most out of it.”
She added: “It’s very special and probably quite unique. Not many people get the opportunity to race alongside both their father and grandfather in the same series. For me it’s a huge advantage because I can learn from both of them. They have so much experience and are always willing to help and give advice. Whether it’s racecraft, car setup or dealing with pressure, there’s always something I can learn. At the same time, when the visor goes down, we’re all racers. It’s still about performing on track. But being able to share those experiences, successes and challenges together as a family makes it even more special.”
The family environment also welcomed pro racer Jeroen Bleekemolen, who brought extensive experience from North American sports car to a one-off entry in France after originally competing for the team in the virtual series during COVID-19 lockdowns.
“The virtual championship during COVID was great fun, but of course it doesn’t come close to the real thing,” Jeroen Bleekemolen said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to drive many different types of race cars throughout my career, from GT cars to prototypes and stock cars in the United States. Even with that experience, I can honestly say the NASCAR Euro Series car has a huge fun factor. It’s a very pure race car. No driving aids, plenty of horsepower, relatively little downforce and close racing. The car really demands that the driver makes the difference, and that’s something I enjoy. You have to work hard behind the wheel and that’s very rewarding. It reminds me of what racing is all about: driver versus driver. I immediately felt comfortable in the car and understood why the series has become so popular among drivers.”
While Jeroen Bleekemolen’s packed global racing schedule keeps him from committing to a full-time campaign, the experience left a lasting mark.
“I definitely enjoyed it and I would love to do more races in the future,” Jeroen noted. “The atmosphere, the cars and the competition make it a very attractive championship to be part of. That said, at the moment it will probably remain a one-off appearance. I have a lot of other racing and business commitments, which makes it difficult to fit additional NASCAR Euro Series weekends into my schedule. Never say never in motorsport, but for now I was mainly happy to finally experience a race weekend firsthand after following the championship for several years through the team and the family.”
Jeroen Bleekemolen praised the series’ ability to capture the authentic vibe of American stock car culture across the Atlantic.
“I was genuinely impressed,” he said. “The level of competition is very high and the racing is exactly what NASCAR should be: close, competitive and entertaining. There are a lot of talented drivers on the grid and you can’t afford to make mistakes because the field is incredibly competitive. What I also really like is the atmosphere around the championship. There are a lot of enthusiastic fans and there is a genuine connection between the drivers, teams and spectators. The paddock is open, accessible and has a great energy.”
“I’ve been racing in the United States since 2010 and I’ve always loved the American approach to motorsport. The NASCAR Euro Series does a very good job of bringing that American spirit to Europe. You can feel the influence in the racing, the presentation, the fan engagement and the overall atmosphere of the events. My heart has always been in American racing, so it’s great to see a European championship that represents that culture and spirit so well. I think the series has a unique identity and deserves even more recognition in the future.”
As Team Bleekemolen turns its eyes to the second half of the 2026 season, the goals remain crystal clear: iron out the technical bugs, put their cars near the front of the pack, and continue building a family legacy that translates across generations and borders.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
