Two action-packed sessions at Circuit Zolder will decide the overall winner in Rookie Challenge – Nine drivers are separated by 79 points and with double points offering up to 176 points, every driver still has a chance
- The Rookie Challenge battle concludes with one final showdown at Circuit Zolder
- Yann Cristovao leads a pack of nine drivers, all determined to win
- Double points place the contenders in a high stakes, high pressure environment
The newcomers in Rookie Challenge will face their most important test to date when the 2026 NASCAR Euro Series Finals goes to green at Circuit Zolder on 16-18 October. After four exciting rounds, nine drivers still have a chance to become the overall winner in the regularity-based time attack challenge. The stakes are massive, but the pressure will be intensified as the Finals will award double points. Whoever can keep their head cool and stay consistent in this high stakes, high pressure environment is going to come out from Belgium with the top prize. Here’s a look at the contenders that will duke it out for the victory in the best platform to experience the pure V8 beasts that powered the official European NASCAR championship.
Yann Cristovao: The Speedhouse driver steadily improved his speed and driving craft as he continued to soak up the experience in his sophomore Rookie Challenge season. Cristovao never put a foot wrong and in the previous round at Italy, the Frenchman claimed a breakthrough win that put him as the leading favorite for the Finals. Having seen first hand just how demanding the Finals is during his debut year, Cristovao will be working hard to put all pieces of the puzzle together and bring home the overall victory.
Sandro Kajaia: The Georgian blossomed to the scene as one of Rookie Challenge’s most promising newcomers. Kajaia was already on the podium during his debut in Spain and followed it up with a maiden victory at the next time out in France. With his father Davit – who’s contesting the Challenger Trophy in V8GP – in his wings and only 12 points separating the Team Bleekemolen driver to his Speedhouse rival Cristovao, Kajaia has the ingredients that he needed to land the number one spot in the Finals.
Jacob Parry: The Welshman made an immediate impression when he drove his CAAL Racing machine to the victory at the season opener in Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Since then, Parry’s season has been a rollercoaster: He took his second round win at the Czech Republic, but mechanical problems in France and Italy left him trailing by 39 points heading to the Finals. There’s no doubt that Parry has the speed to mount a comeback, but he and his experienced team, led by multiple-time championship winning owner Luca Canneori, need to pray to the god of luck to ward away any possible misfortune that can befall them.
The Bigger Picture: Henrik Peters, who is building his rapport as a late newcomer who is pursuing a pure racing career, leads the outside contenders in fourth with a deficit of 48 points to catch. 2017 overall contender Andreas Kuchelbacher followed in fifth, 51 points behind his younger teammate Cristovao. Nuno Caetano and Gianni Lasserre, both with 57 points to catch, are next in line with Nicole Davidson (-62) and Maral Ghazarian (-79) completing the list of drivers with a chance to win big at the Finals. Only one driver can be crowned as the overall winner and it will be decided with two timed, double points paying sessions at Circuit Zolder.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner
