The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Finals are under way at Circuit Zolder, Belgium an it was the local PK Carsport team that topped the time sheets.
Reigning champion Anthony Kumpen in the #24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS set the pace with a best time of 1:38.838 in the final practice session after finishing the first session in second. Eddie Cheever III in the #51 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS finished second place, just two tenths of a second off of the pace of Kumpen.
Ander Vilarino is currently leading the points table in the #2 TFT-Banco Santander Chevrolet SS and finished in third place ahead of first session leader Alon Day in the #54 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS, rounding out the top-5 was Nicolò Rocca in the #56 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS. The three CAAL Racing drivers will do battle for the Junior ‘Jerome Sarran’ Trophy this weekend.
It was another Belgian driver who was the talk of the paddock, Tim Verbegt took his #20 Racing Club Partners Toyota Camry to fifth and eighth in the two sessions on his NWES debut.
Gianluca De Lorenzi in the #87 GDL Racing Ford Mustang posted the best time in the Challenger Trophy as he finished the final session in ninth.
For the ELITE 2 Division Stienes Longin brought the #11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS home at the top of the times as he set a time of 1:39.906 in the final session. Gianmarco Ercoli topped the times in the first session in the #9 Double T by MRT Nocentini Chevrolet Camaro but finished the day in second.
Championship leader Philipp Lietz took the #67 GDL Racing Ford Mustang to third place ahead of another driver making his début this weekend, Philippe Steveny in the #20 Racing Club Partners Toyota Camry.
Salvador Tineo Arroyo in the #51 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS rounded out the top five drivers as he made a massive improvement of 1.4 seconds between the first and second sessions.
Sixth place was occupied by the #54 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS driver Carole Perrin, ahead of Roberto Benedetti (#12 Double T by MRT Nocentini Chevrolet Camaro) who was fastest in the Gentleman Trophy classification.
Eric De Doncker in the #98 Insulco Motorsport 98 Ford Mustang led the Legend Trophy classification.
The ELITE 1 and ELITE 2 qualifying session will start tomorrow, Octber 3rd, at 10:15 am CET. Fans can watch live on Fanschoice.tv (http://bit.ly/nweslive) and follow live updates on the NASCAR Home Tracks Race Central Live page (http://bit.ly/nwes6x15RCL).
