With 88 points separating the eight primary contenders and two double points races still to go, the NASCAR Euro Series Finals in Belgium promises plenty of excitement for the Master Trophy
- Eight up-and-coming talents are chasing for supremacy in the Master Trophy
- 88 points separate overall leader Sandro Tavarkiladze from his seven main rivals
- Only one will come out as the class champion at the end of the Finals in Belgium
The 2026 NASCAR Euro Series Finals on 17-18 October will witness a titanic battle among the up-and-coming talents that are chasing for the title in the Master Trophy. Eight OPEN drivers still have a chance to win the Master Trophy crown after five eventful rounds, proving the Trophy as one of the best platforms for young driver development in a pure racing environment. The action will be fierce and with two double points races at Circuit Zolder, the stakes will be high. Here is a breakdown of how the Master Trophy is shaping up heading to the grand finale in the woods of Limburg, Belgium.
Sandro Tavartkiladze: The Georgian enters the decider with a hot streak of strong results. After struggling with bad luck at the first two rounds in Spain and France, Tavartkiladze struck back with a run of six consecutive Master Trophy wins. His wins at the start of the Playoffs allowed the Team Bleekemolen driver to claim the overall Trophy lead and there’s a strong chance that the 27-year old will cap off his 2026 season with the class crown, but he wants more than just the Trophy. Tavartkiladze eyes for the overall win and a Victory Lane visit will be the ultimate goal for the Tbilisi native in the Finals.
Florian Richard: Consistency is the Frenchman’s ace card in the Master Trophy battle. Richard started off his campaign with a Master Trophy win in front of his home crowd at Paul Ricard and continued his momentum with solid consistency. The RDV Competition driver is Tavartkiladze’s closest rival and with 31 points separating Richard from the Georgian, it will only take one slip up from Tavartkiladze to put Richard in prime contention for the class title.
Dominique Schaak: The German steadily builds up his resume from year-to-year and 2026 represents Schaak’s biggest opportunity to win the Master Trophy. Only 35 points behind Tavartkiladze, Schaak and BS+BREMOTION worked hard during the rounds to provide the 36-year old with consistent machinery that he can depend upon. Schaak has secured Master Trophy podiums in France and the Czech Republic, but he still chases for his first Trophy win and the Finals is the perfect event for the driver of the #99 Chevrolet Camaro to bring home the top prize in the special classification.
Jens Beeusaert and Maxim van Laere: Every year the Master Trophy – and its predecessor Rookie Trophy – always sees a spectacular newcomer blossomed to the scene and in 2026, Beeusaert and van Laere are the Trophy’s standout drivers. Joining the OPEN division after tasting the pure racing experience in the Rookie Challenge, the two Belgians proved their mettle with a maiden Master Trophy after their first and second ever race respectively. Beeusaert and van Laere are the real dark horses and while they trail Tavartkiladze by 51 and 55 points respectively, they have the support from their home crowd at Zolder to power their way to glory.
The Bigger Picture: The Finnish duo of Ossi Pohjanharju and Henri Timonen have a significant gap of 66 and 71 points to overcome, but they are ready to pounce on the mistakes by the leading contenders. Valentino Gambarotto has been beset with technical problems in France and an injury that forced his absence in the Czech Republic, but double points will give the Italian a chance to claw back his deficit of 88 points. The NASCAR Euro Series Finals at Circuit Zolder promises a thriller and only one driver will walk away as the 2026 Master Trophy champion at the end of the two races that are scheduled on 17-18 October!
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
