15,000 Belgian fans were treated with the unpredictable drama and the crowning of the champions in the Finals at Circuit Zolder – The 2026 NASCAR Euro Series season brings almost 200,000 fans together to enjoy the purest form of motorsport
- The latest NASCAR Euro Series chapter ended in spectacular fashion
- 15,000 fans visited Circuit Zolder in Belgium to witness four thrilling Finals races
- Nearly 200,000 fans attended the six unmissable events that made up the 2026 NASCAR Euro Series calendar
The woods of Limburg came alive with the roaring sounds from the V8 engined NASCAR Euro Series beasts that powered through Circuit Zolder for the 2026 Finals. 15,000 fans visited the Finals at the historic Belgian venue to celebrate the best of America’s racing. When combined with the numbers from the previous events, the 2026 season delivered in spades with a final season attendance number that approaches 200,000 spectators. Trademark battles, unpredictable results, tension between the top contenders and unparalleled family entertainment: That is the spirit of pure racing, brought to its truest form in the Old Continent with six action-packed race weekends that ended with the crowning of the new V8GP and OPEN champions.
The Finals started with its traditional parade to the historic city center of Heusden-Zolder, allowing fans to interact with the drivers and the pure racing machines that powered the European NASCAR championship. An incredible grid and pit walk at Circuit Zolder gave spectators more chance to get up close to their favorite stars before they suit themselves up for four grueling races that decided their ultimate fate in the 2026 season. With double points in play, no one knew who’s going to exit the Finals with the trophy and the results speak for themselves.
Overnight rain brought in a damp qualifying that led to a rare stumble by the favorites in V8GP: Vittorio Ghirelli and PK Carsport, the Belgian powerhouse that called Circuit Zolder home. They misjudged their strategy and had to fight from the back of the pack in the races to deliver something that had never been seen before: A three-peat championship. The Italian worked meticulously with Anthony Kumpen’s team to get all the points they needed and stood on top of the world when the checkered flag dropped at the end of the Finals, having achieved a feat that will be remembered for eons to come.
The history books will also remember the ascendance of a new king in the OPEN division. Thomas Toffel finally struck the gold that he had been building up since the start of the season. With two top-5 finishes at Zolder, the Swiss completed his journey to the highest echelons as he and THT by Race Art Technology were crowned champions for the first time in their storied careers. Fans also celebrated the victory of one of the sport’s most popular figures: Claudio Cappelli, ever the showman both on and off the track, took advantage of a sudden downpour to find his way back to the Victory Lane for the first time in two years.
All of this spectacle confirmed one thing: NASCAR Euro Series stands out as one of the premier touring car series in Europe. With almost 200,000 fans attending the six rounds that featured equal machinery with no driving aids, a pure racing experience and a family-friendly atmosphere that welcomed people from all backgrounds, the 2026 season showed that interest in analogical, American based motorsport is at an all-time high.
The 2026 season might have been in the books, but it doesn’t mean the V8 thunder will stop any time soon. Team FJ, organizers of the NASCAR Euro Series, announced the 2027 season’s schedule and Recruitment Test date during the Finals weekend. With six unmissable events for the new year, now’s your time to become part of the official European NASCAR championship. More news will be announced during the silly season, so stay tuned because time will fly by quickly before the command to “start your engines” is given once again!
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner
