Vittorio Ghirelli maintained his advantage at the top of V8GP with his calculated drive at the UK – The Italian holds a 32 point lead, but dropped points after Czechia and double points for the Playoffs in Italy and Belgium promises to mix things up
- Vittorio Ghirelli defended his overall lead in V8GP at the NASCAR GP UK
- Ghirelli and Paul Jouffreau claimed victories in mixed conditions
- The Junior Trophy and Challenger Trophy battles added plenty of racing action
NASCAR Euro Series continues to define its V8GP championship spectacle with some of the most thrilling showdowns in the world of motorsport. 42,000 fans at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit were treated with plenty of door-to-door action and mixed weather conditions, giving rise to an unpredictable 2026 NASCAR GP UK. Both races came down to the wire, as Vittorio Ghirelli and Paul Jouffreau clinched their wins after surviving numerous unexpected twists that kept the fans at the edge of their seats.
The skies opened up in Round 5, leading to a race of survival in the rain. Ghirelli drove a smart race and avoided mistakes in the #24 PK Carsport Chevrolet Camaro, allowing the reigning two-time V8GP champion to grab his third win of the season. He followed it up with a fourth-place finish in Round 6, which was enough to extend his overall lead to 32 points. The Italian is trailed by two fast Americans: “Mr. Last Minute Deal” Jordan O’Brien and “Hybrid Racer” Garrett Lowe. O’Brien kept his hot streak intact with his third podium of the season in Round 6, while Lowe grabbed the headlines with his maiden Stromwatches.com Pole Award in qualifying.
Jouffreau was beset with more incidents in Round 5, but the Frenchman showed his potential with his visit to the Victory Lane in Round 6. The driver of the #3 RDV Competition Ford Mustang fought tooth-and-nail with Gianmarco Ercoli, but Jouffreau never looked back after the Italian suffered from a late retirement. Thomas Krasonis completed the overall top-5 while Vladimiros Tziortzis, Martin Doubek, Julien Rehberg, Logan Bearden and Nelson Piquet Jr. sat in the top-10 positions.
In the trophies, both the Junior Trophy and Challenger Trophy are as close as ever. Lowe remained on top of the Junior Trophy, but the driver of the #99 BS+BREMOTION Chevrolet Camaro held a slim lead of only two points to Jouffreau, who clawed back his deficit with his win in Round 6. Krasonis and Rehberg kept the two leaders in check with their consistent finishes. Jack Davidson and Vinnie Meskelis brought up the rear of the special classification for drivers aged 25 and below, but Davidson scored a stunning overall podium at his home NASCAR GP and Meskelis took home a double top-10 finish. With only 39 points separating all six contenders, the landscape can dramatically change in the upcoming stretch of races.
Bearden and Davit Kajaia traded the Challenger Trophy wins in Brands Hatch, confirming their status as the primary contenders in the special classification for elite amateurs. While Bearden maintained his overall lead, the two drivers were now separated by only one point. Rookies Giovanni Cartechini and Brad Ranson gained important experience with their double Trophy podium finishes, keeping them within arms reach of the driver of the #30 Rette Jones Racing by Hendriks Ford Mustang.
Every driver is currently working hard to make themselves prepared for the return of the NASCAR GP Czech Republic on 29-30 August. The races at the 4.212 kilometer circuit will determine their position heading to the double points Playoffs in Italy and Belgium. With the stakes at play, the V8GP contenders are set to make a show that will be remembered for years to come.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
