A veteran of the NASCAR Euro Series regularity-based division, Andreas Kuchelbacher returns to Speedhouse Racing to compete in the brand new Rookie Challenge.
- Andreas Kuchelbacher returns to Speedhouse Racing
- The Austrian will compete in the brand new Rookie Challenge
- It will be his sixth NASCAR Euro Series season
Retirement is a hobby for Andreas Kuchelbacher, who has announced the end of his racing career many times, but has never been able to stay away from the pure racing of the NASCAR Euro Series. The 2017 Club Challenge overall winner returned to the NASCAR Euro Series on Fridays to compete in the regularity-based division for three spectacular 30-minute sessions where drivers have to get as close to the target time as possible to score the most points. In 2017, the Austrian topped the standings after five events, and in 2024 he was among the title contenders. For the 2025 season, Kuchelbacher returns to Lucas Lasserre’s Speedhouse Racing to fight for another title.
The regularity-based division will evolve in 2025: While the Club Classification part remains active within the Rookie Challenge, the NASCAR Euro Series has created a new additional format. It’s the best opportunity for NASCAR rookies to get up to speed to compete in OPEN or PRO in the future. While in the Club Classification the race control sets the reference times H1 and H2, the Rookie Challenge will be more time-attack oriented while still rewarding consistency. The Rookie Challenge represents a friendly and safe environment to get used to the powerful V8 car and build up the speed needed to compete in the PRO and OPEN.
“Everything is just right at Speedhouse, especially the car preparation and the atmosphere,” said Kuchelbacher on his return to the French organisation. “I am happy to stay with the team. Speedhouse is my natural choice and we have worked well together. I benefit from Lucas as a coach, manager and driver. The respect and the ability to just listen and learn is just amazing. I was the overall winner in 2017 and have three third places in 2018, 2019 and 2024. I want the title back! This will be my sixth NASCAR Euro Series season and I still love it. I am sure we will have some great times together in 2025.”
Team owner, driver coach, engineer and driver Lasserre added: “I am proud and happy to announce Andreas Kuchelbacher for the 2025 season. Andreas has been a Speedhouse driver and partner for a long time. He’s my friend and a specialist in the Rookie Challenge rules. I bet he will be a strong contender for the title again. Speedhouse Racing was strong last season and Andreas’ contract extension shows that we are an attractive and efficient team in the sport. We will do our best to help Andreas win the title in 2025.”
The Rookie Challenge will take place on Fridays during five selected race weekends: Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Germany and Belgium. Follow the action on EuroNASCAR’s social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube and watch Rookie Challenge highlight clips to make sure you don’t miss any of the action of the 2025 NASCAR Euro Series season.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner
