The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is ready for the 2023 season finale at Circuit Zolder, close to Hasselt in Belgium, on October 14-15 for the ninth edition of the track’s American Festival. Hosting the EuroNASCAR Finals for the sixth time in its history, the event promises another unique show with fantastic action on and off the track. With four races on the 4.001 kilometer track, Europe’s best NASCAR drivers will compete in the “Pure Racing” style of the best touring car series in the old continent. Buckle up as we provide you with all the important information about the 2023 NASCAR GP Belgium.
Circuit Zolder is located a short distance south-east of the city of Hasselt. Opened in 1963, the track hosted top tier racing as Formula One. The track combines fast sections with twisty and challenging sectors including a lot of elevation changes. The ten turns in the legendary woods of Limburg belong to the most challenging on the NWES schedule. The NASCAR GP Belgium will host the season finale, at the end of which the two champions, the champion team and all Trophies winners will be crowned.
In EuroNASCAR PRO, a four-way battle emerged on top of the standings. CAAL Racing’s Gianmarco Ercoli saw his advantage in the overall standings melt but still the Italian leads the classification by four points ahead of Team Bleekemolen’s top driver Vittorio Ghirelli from Fasano. The two-time race winner sits ahead of Speedhouse’s Lucas Lasserre, who impressed with his consistency all season long. Lasserre is third, 21 points behind Ercoli. Two-time NWES champion Anthony Kumpen follows in fourth, just 23 points behind the leader. Liam Hezemans leads the Junior Trophy, while Fabrizio Armetta is first in the Challenger Trophy.
In EuroNASCAR 2, Vladimiros Tziortzis dominated the classification with five race wins this season, but issues in Most and Oschersleben allowed his competitors to close the gap. The Cypriot at the wheel of the #5 Academy / Alex Caffi Motorsport car leads CAAL Racing superstar Alberto Naska by just three points, while RDV Competition’s Paul Jouffreau follows in third, just four points shy of the leader. Mr. Consistency Gil Linster is fourth, 28 points behind Tziortzis, while Thomas Dombrowski leads the Rookie Trophy. Claudio Cappelli tops the Legend Trophy and Arianna Casoli dominates the Lady Trophy.
Basic information: NASCAR GP Belgium 2023
Location: Zolder, Belgium
Track type: Road course
Track length: 4.011 kilometer
Number of turns: 10
On the calendar since: 2015
Weekend schedule (all times CEST)
Thursday, October 12
11:25 – 11:55 Session 1 (Club Challenge)
13:05 – 13:35 Session 2 (Club Challenge)
15:05 – 15:35 Session 3 (Club Challenge)
16:30 – 18:30 Parade to Zolder
Friday, October 13
14:05 – 14:35 Free Practice 1 (EuroNASCAR PRO)
14:45 – 15:15 Free Practice 1 (EuroNASCAR 2)
16:20 – 16:50 Free Practice 2 (EuroNASCAR PRO)
17:00 – 17:30 Free Practice 2 (EuroNASCAR 2)
Saturday, October 14
10:00 – 10:15 Qualifying (EuroNASCAR PRO)
10:20 – 10:25 Superpole (EuroNASCAR PRO)
10:40 – 11:00 Qualifying (EuroNASCAR 2)
14:00 – 14:45 Race 1 EuroNASCAR PRO (18 laps, 75 kilometers)
16:50 – 17:25 Race 1 EuroNASCAR 2 (15 laps, 60 kilometers)
Sunday, October 15
09:00 – 09:50 Autograph session + pit walk
10.05 – 10:15 Warmup (EuroNASCAR PRO & 2)
11:20 – 11:55 Race 2 EuroNASCAR 2 (15 laps, 60 kilometers)
14:05 – 14:50 Race 2 EuroNASCAR PRO (18 laps, 75 kilometers)
Where to buy tickets
The American Festival EuroNASCAR Finals is hosted by Circuit Zolder. Tickets for the event are available on the race track’s official website: https://www.circuit-zolder.be/event/american-festival-nascar/
TV times and live streaming
All sessions below will be broadcast live on www.youtube.com/EuroNASCAR
Saturday, October 14
09:50 CEST Qualifying (EuroNASCAR PRO & 2)
13:25 CEST EuroNASCAR PRO Final 1
16:30 CEST EuroNASCAR 2 Final 1
Sunday, October 15
11:00 CEST EuroNASCAR 2 Final 2
13:30 CEST EuroNASCAR PRO Final 2
In addition, the races will be broadcast live on Motorsport.tv, the MotorvisionTV app and various TV services around the world. Race highlights will be available on the EuroNASCAR YouTube channel at the end of both race days, with extended highlights in English to follow on Thursday, October 19. Extended highlights will also be available in foreign languages on various TV channels in many countries.
Support series and attractions
Alongside the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, a total of one support series will round up the on-track program. The Belgian Belcar Endurance Series will also celebrate its season finale. On Thursday from 16:30 to 18:30, there will be a parade to the city center of Zolder with the cars on public roads and all teams as well as drivers available for autographs, photos and nice talks. Zolder also hosts American themed attractions around the venue for the whole family. At the end of the race, the champions will be crowned.
LINK TO RACE CENTER: https://www.euronascar.com/race-center/
Featured image by NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Klemen Sofric
