Endurance Team Championship: Hendriks Motorsport 1-2 at Vallelunga, Team Bleekemolen takes over the lead - Speedway Digest

The second event of the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season produced thrilling racing in both divisions – EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR 2. Four dramatic rounds resulted in a big shift in the new Endurance Team Championship, with several changes in positions within the field. While Hendriks Motorsport scored a 1-2 win at the Autodromo di Vallelunga, Team Bleekemolen took the points lead from Race Art Technology thanks to the consistent results of the #72 car. Marko Stipp Motorsport’s #46 Chevrolet Camaro also joined the battle, as the top-3 are separated by just two points.

Team Bleekemolen’s #72 Toyota Camry finished fifth in the standings after four races in Italy. This was enough to score 32 points for the championship. Thanks to the 35 points from Valencia, the Dutch powerhouse now leads the standings. Marc Goossens in EuroNASCAR PRO and Michael Bleekemolen in EuroNASCAR 2 proved that consistency is the key to establishing the team at the top of the Endurance Team Championship.

Race Art Technology wasn’t able to defend its lead, but the Swiss team is still in the hunt for the title. Thomas Toffel had a good weekend in Rome and his results were good enough to secure second place in the standings and twelfth place in the weekend results. Race Art Technology is level on points with the #46 crew of Marko Stipp Motorsport.

The German Chevrolet Camaro, driven by Thomas Krasonis in both divisions, made a big leap forward thanks to the Athenian’s strong results. 1:39.849 minutes separated the German organization led by Marko Stipp from the winning team in Italy: Hendriks Motorsport. The Dutch organization saw the #7 Ford Mustang of Martin Doubek storming to a stunning 1-2 finish in the NASCAR GP Italy, ahead of the #50 Toyota Camry driven by Liam Hezemans in EuroNASCAR PRO and Gil Linster in EuroNASCAR 2. The two cars were separated by 26.809 seconds after four races.

Due to a mixed start to the season at Valencia with ups and downs for Hezemans, Linster and Doubek, the teams led by Roy Hendriks need to make up more ground to be in contention for the title. The #50 Hendriks Camry is fourth overall, three points behind the #54 CAAL Racing Chevrolet of Gianmarco Ercoli and Sven van Laere and six points behind the leader. Italy’s winning #7 crew is eighth due to Doubek’s struggles in EuroNASCAR PRO in Spain but only nine points adrift the leader. The two Speedhouse teams of the #33 and #14 Ford Mustangs are still ahead of the #7 Mustang in the overall standings.

The 2024 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series continues at the Indy Circuit of Brands Hatch on 8-9 May. Drivers will face another endurance challenge in both divisions. The top-10 of the new Endurance Team Championship are only separated by 13 points, while the top-8 are within nine points. Qualifying and all races will be broadcast live on EuroNASCAR’s YouTube channel and on several TV channels around the world.

NWES PR