2014 Whelen Euro Calendar Announced
Six Stops In Five Countries Highlight Series’ Third Year
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Six race weekends in five European countries will make up the 2014 schedule as the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series embarks on its third season under the NASCAR banner.
NASCAR’s only championship series outside of North America will visit some of Europe’s most historic race tracks, including at LeMans in France, and, the newest addition to the calendar for next year, Nürburgring in Nürburg, Germany.
The schedule will also again include a stop just outside of Paris at Tours Speedway, the first purpose-built oval for stock car racing in Europe.
“The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series plays a prominent role as NASCAR boldly moves forward with a comprehensive international strategy to bring stock-car racing to fans around the world,” said NASCAR Executive Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O’Donnell. “Throughout Europe, they are eager for the action and excitement of NASCAR racing and whether it’s in Daytona or Brands Hatch, that passion is shared by fans and competitors alike.”
“As we enter our third season as a NASCAR racing series, the response from the fans for stock-car racing everywhere we go has been amazing,” said Jerome Galpin, founder of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and series’ general manager, who has helped grow the series from a concept for stock-car racing in France to NASCAR’s flagship series in Europe. “Fans, drivers, teams, and race organizers have embraced the series, and we are proud to be able to announce multi-year agreements with several prominent venues.”
The 2014 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series schedule rundown:
April 12-13: Valencia Spain – The series will serve as the feature division at Valencia. The 14-turn, 2.157-mile Circuit Ricardo Tormo was built in 1999 and served as the host of the semifinals in the series’ inaugural season under the NASCAR banner in 2012.
June 7-8: Brands Hatch, England – The series will be the headline division for the American Speedfest. The 1.198-mile course in Kent has been a series staple.
July 6-7: Tours, France – The annual stop brings short-track action to the European stage. Since its first event two years ago on a temporary course, the Tours Speedway has been built out to include permanent banking and has signed an agreement to host the series through 2017.
July 19-20: Nürburg, Germany – The first visit to Germany will be at the famed Nürburgring. The series will compete on the venue’s 2.255-mile Short Course that dates back to 1927.
Oct. 11-12: LeMans, France – The 2014 champion once again will be crowned at LeMans. The venue, which hosts the famed 24 Hours of LeMans sports car event, will contest the final two races of the season on its 10-turn, 2.655-mile Circuit Bugatti.
Details on the sixth race weekend, to be held in September prior to the championship at LeMans, are still being worked out and will be announced at a later date.
Both Valencia and Brands Hatch have signed multi-year agreements to host the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, as has Tours.
Earlier this year at LeMans, Ander Vilarino captured his second straight NASCAR Whelen Euro Series championship. Vilarino, along with the six other NASCAR touring series champions and special award winners, will be honored at the NASCAR Night of Champions Awards on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Charlotte (N.C.) Convention Center next to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
In July, Whelen Engineering, a long-time sponsor and supporter of NASCAR’s touring and regional series, became the official entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series through 2019.
Sources: NASCAR PR