The 2016 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season kicked off today at the Circuit De La Communitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain with two free practice session in which teams and drivers, representing seveteen different nationalities, officially brought to the track the 2016 NWES car for the first time for the Valencia NASCAR Fest.
Results were very promising: winningest active NWES driver Frederic Gabillon (#3 Tepac RDV Compétition Ford Mustang) lapped the 4,005-km track in 01:40,368, going below the record established by Nicolò Rocca (#56 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) last year (1:40,653). Alon Day (#54 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) and Anthony Kumpen (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) also went below the record and eight drivers were separated by just one second in the Elite 1 Division, with Nicolò Rocca (#54 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) and Wilfried Boucenna (#73 Knauf Racing Team Ford Mustang) in the top-5. Hometown hero Borja Garcia (#1 SPV Racing Ford Mustang) posted the sixth time by being fastest in the first session.
Stienes Longin (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) dominated in the Elite 2 division, posting the fastest lap in 1:41,567, leading Salvador Tineo Arroyo (#54 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS), who edged Thomas Ferrando (#37 Knauf Racing Team Ford Mustang) and Guillaume Deflandre (#54 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS). Gabriele Gardel (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) rounded out the top-5.
In their first official session as teammates on the #66 DF1 Racing Chevrolet, Mathias Lauda and Freddie Hunt posted respectively the 13th and 11th fastest time in Elite 1 and Elite 2 Division.
The 2016 season started on a high note and drivers are ready to offer race fans a great show in Valencia this week-end for the third edition of the Valencia Nascar Fest.
Qualifying will start on saturday April 23 at 10:00 CET with the Elite 1 division.