Vittorio Ghirelli leads the V8GP championship standings heading into the Finals at Circuit Zolder with Nelson Piquet Jr. on his back bumper – Thomas Toffel feels the heat from Raphael Lessard in the OPEN division

• Vittorio Ghirelli leads Nelson Piquet Jr. by 31 points ahead of the V8GP Finals 
• Thomas Toffel holds a 12-point advantage over Raphael Lessard in the OPEN division 
• The Finals at Circuit Zolder in Belgium on October 17-18 will decide the championship

The start of the 2026 NASCAR Euro Series Playoffs at Autodromo di Vallelunga in Italy blew both the V8GP and OPEN championship battles wide open. While Vittorio Ghirelli and Thomas Toffel continue to pace their respective divisions, a storm is brewing behind the regular-season standouts ahead of the double-points season Finals in the woods of Limburg. With a dominant weekend sweep at Vallelunga, former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. stormed into second place in V8GP, sitting just 31 points adrift from Ghirelli. Meanwhile, his Alumitec Racing teammate Raphael Lessard is lurking in the OPEN division, trailing Toffel by a mere 12 markers.

V8GP: Ghirelli has the big target on his back

Ghirelli and PK Carsport have maximized every opportunity this season with clever strategy, textbook consistency, and three trips to Victory Lane. Despite not always piloting the fastest car on track, the Italian ace has been a fixture on the podium due to his race intelligence and the team’s strategy. The Fasano native has amassed 381 points across the regular season and the two Semi-Final rounds at Autodromo di Vallelunga. But, despite carrying a healthy 31-point cushion into Belgium, the two-time champion – who could become the first driver in series history to capture three consecutive titles – will have to keep his eyes glued to the rear-view mirror as Piquet Jr. charges in with massive Playoffs momentum.

Piquet Jr. flashed race-winning potential throughout the regular season, but under the blazing Italian sun, the Alumitec Racing driver truly hit his stride. The Brazilian swept both races and collected the maximum 160 points, skyrocketing the driver of the #48 Ford Mustang into second in the overall standings and establishing himself as Ghirelli’s fiercest challenger. The triumphs at Vallelunga marked career NASCAR wins five and six for Piquet Jr., who previously visited Victory Lane across the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series East. Overcoming a 31-point deficit remains a tall order, but with double points on the line and a playoff sweep within reach, the 41-year-old veteran is poised to strike.

Thomas Krasonis ranks third after scoring back-to-back podium finishes in Italy. The Greek driver seized the lead in the Junior Trophy – the dedicated classification for drivers aged 25 and under – and positioned himself as a viable challenger to his PK Carsport teammate atop the standings. Facing a 42-point margin to Ghirelli, Krasonis will need a bit of racing luck, but the reigning OPEN champion knows exactly what it takes to hoist a trophy at Circuit Zolder. Tied with Krasonis is Jordan O’Brien in the Hendriks Motorsport Ford. After weathering a turbulent Semi-Final weekend at Vallelunga, the American contender needs the cards to fall his way, but remains well within striking distance.

Martin Doubek and Garrett Lowe sit fifth and sixth, deadlocked in points with a 47-point deficit to the top spot. Lowe surrendered the Junior Trophy lead during the Semi-Finals, but the American driver remains hungry to battle for an overall podium finish with BS+BREMOTION. Paul Jouffreau sits seventh overall and third in the Junior Trophy ranks. While his championship odds are narrow, writing off Jouffreau and RDV Competition is never wise in the NASCAR Euro Series. Gianmarco Ercoli, Vladimiros Tziortzis, and Fabrizio Armetta complete the top-10, retaining a puncher’s chance at title glory if chaos breaks out at the front.

OPEN: It’s Toffel versus Lessard

Thomas Toffel burst out of the gate this year with a blistering three-race win streak to establish control of the OPEN standings, but his safety margin has shrunk rapidly. The Swiss driver behind the wheel of the #34 THT by Race Art Technology Chevrolet is still chasing his fourth win of the campaign, yet he salvaged vital championship points in Vallelunga with a pair of hard-fought runner-up finishes. While Toffel padded his tally, one driver cut the gap to a sliver thanks to a clean weekend sweep and his fourth consecutive victory: Raphael Lessard. The Alumitec Racing phenom sits just 12 points behind Toffel and holds his own destiny, as a weekend sweep at Circuit Zolder guarantees him the title regardless of where Toffel crosses the line.

The stage is set for a down-to-the-wire showdown between two drivers hungry to claim the crown in NASCAR’s proving ground in Europe. But don’t count out the others just yet: Just 22 points off the lead sits Thomas Dombrowski, who hauled in a massive points haul on Sunday at Vallelunga by finishing third and taking home eight bonus points for the most positions gained. Sharing the #24 PK Carsport Chevrolet with Ghirelli, the Frenchman firmly remains in the title hunt. Gil Linster sits fourth, 37 points back; while he will need fortune on his side, the Luxembourger’s extensive NASCAR Euro Series experience could prove decisive on the technical asphalt of Zolder.

Vladimiros Tziortzis rounds out the top-5 with a 41-point deficit, while Claudio Cappelli leads the Legend Trophy for drivers aged 45 and older from sixth overall. Martin Doubek faces long odds in his pursuit of a third crown, as the Czech veteran sits seventh, 87 points adrift. Sandro Tavartkiladze leads the Master Trophy ranks for rising talents in eighth, while Legend Trophy contender Melvin de Groot and Master Trophy frontrunner Florian Richard round out the top-10 heading into the season finale. The stage is set, and the legendary Circuit Zolder will deliver the drama on October 17-18. Fans can catch all the high-octane action live with your broadcasting partners listed on www.nascar.eu/watch.

Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner