NASCAR Euro Series gets to go head-to-head with Canada’s best NASCAR racers at Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres – The historic street circuit is characterized by its tight walls and mixed sectors, a challenging combination for European stars to adapt
- Vittorio Ghirelli is heading to the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres in Quebec, Canada
- The 2.448 kilometer street circuit is known for its demanding challenges
- The tight walls and roar of the crowd makes for an amazing atmosphere
Reigning V8GP champion Vittorio Ghirelli returns to one of North America’s most prestigious street racing venues this weekend: Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres, an opportunity that was provided by the NASCAR Euro Series as a reward for winning the 2025 championship. The 2.448 kilometer circuit located in the heart of Quebec, Canada is a familiar territory for the Italian following his GP3R debut last year. That maiden appearance gave Ghirelli a better insight on what to expect from this historic event, which has hosted racing’s royalty since 1967.
A major factor that helped to establish the charm of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres is the track’s extreme demands. Don’t let the short length deceive you: Trois-Rivieres combines plenty of fast sweepers with complex corner strings in its 12-turn layout. Full concentration is required to keep the machines on the tarmac, especially with the tight walls that are ready to catch any drivers that are not careful with their craft.
“GP3R is a fast and technical street circuit, so there’s absolutely no room for mistakes,” said Ghirelli. “The walls are very close, which means you have to be fully committed every lap. The braking zones are demanding, and finding the right rhythm is essential because every corner leads into another challenge. What makes it so enjoyable is exactly that combination of precision, speed and confidence. When you put together a perfect lap, it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Mastering the GP3R, with all of its twists and turns, is only part of the challenge. They also had to adapt to the NASCAR Canada Series machines, which is fundamentally different to the NASCAR Euro Series race car despite sharing the same pure racing principle.
“The cars are different in Canada,” remembered Frederic Gabillon, who raced at Trois-Rivieres in 2018. “The car has more power by about 130 horsepower. It is heavier, more flexible and the brakes are a little less efficient. That being said, the car has a fairly fast behavior to take control for a European driver. The biggest challenge is the tires, which are very different from ours and the track which is a challenge in itself.”
American racer Ryan Vargas understands the challenges that Ghirelli and Gabillon were experiencing, having raced in the NASCAR Euro Series in 2024 and NASCAR Canada Series the following year.
“GP3R is so unique because of the fact that it is a street course that has a ton of bumps and the surface is quite slick,” explained Vargas, who was reunited with Ghirelli during the 2025 GP3R. “On top of that there’s a lot of left hand turns, so it almost feels like a short track. The biggest thing I feel some drivers would encounter is the fact that these cars have a good chunk of extra power and love to slide around. It takes a smooth throttle pedal to make these things go fast.”
All of the challenges provided GP3R with the perfect event for European drivers to test their mettle against North America’s best competitors. Tens of thousands of fans will come from all across the country to support the stars at the streets of Trois-Rivieres and with Ghirelli’s return, the Canadian crowd will get to see the flair and style that has led the PK Carsport driver to two V8GP crowns in Europe.
“The atmosphere at GP3R is simply incredible,” said Ghirelli. “The whole city of Trois-Rivieres lives for this event, and you can feel the passion for motorsport everywhere. The fans are extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and they create an amazing environment throughout the weekend. It’s one of those races where you really feel the history and tradition of the sport. As a driver, competing in front of such a passionate crowd is something very special.”
Featured image by Getty Images for NASCAR
