NASCAR Euro Series – Maxim van Laere to Join Speedhouse for Maiden OPEN Season

Speedhouse has announced the signing of promising youngster Maxim van Laere. The Belgian driver is stepping up from the Rookie Challenge to make his highly anticipated OPEN debut in the 2026 NASCAR Euro Series season. At only 16 years old, Maxim follows in the footsteps of his father, Sven van Laere, who was a fixture on the grid for many years. The rising star will aim to be a serious contender in the battle for the Master Trophy, the special classification for young, up-and-coming talent in the OPEN division.

“I’m really delighted to continue my journey in the NASCAR Euro Series with Lucas Lasserre and the entire Speedhouse team,” Maxim van Laere commented. “After racing against them last season and participating in the team’s Winter Camp Program, I’m fully convinced that this is the ideal environment for me to keep progressing. The team’s professionalism, commitment, and quality give me great confidence that together we will optimize my learning process and be competitive throughout the season.”

Van Laere entered NASCAR in Europe via the Rookie Challenge in 2025. In the regularity time-attack test, the Belgian finished as runner-up, just two points shy of overall winner Jose Penalta. He showed promising pace and impressive consistency at the wheel of the V8 machine, which features no electronic aids but boasts a powerful V8 engine. Stepping up to the OPEN division marks a significant milestone for the young talent.

“I’m extremely happy to announce that Maxim van Laere from Belgium is joining Speedhouse for the 2026 season and beyond in the OPEN division,” said Speedhouse team boss Lucas Lasserre. “Max finished second in the Rookie Challenge last year, including a superb victory in the final at his home track, Zolder, and he was a very tough opponent. I was therefore able to observe him very closely, especially since his father, Sven, was one of our drivers in 2025.”

Lasserre continued: “Max’s attitude is everything that I like and respect, both inside and outside the car. He is serious, determined, dedicated, and he listens. For all these reasons, Max has always been on our list and was our priority for the upcoming season. I am very happy, motivated, and determined to pass on to him all the knowledge that will allow us to achieve our common goals.”

“You know my commitment to young drivers, to train them and prepare them to win; Max is one of them. Max participated in our Speedhouse Winter Camp Program at the circuit of Fontenay-Le-Comte last November, and these trials were the key element. Max was able to extract the efficiency of our car, experience our organization, meet our technical staff, and progress throughout the day. We will continue to seriously prepare him to be totally ready for the launch of the Championship in Valencia. Welcome to the blue, Max!”

Van Laere will make his OPEN debut at the wheel of a Speedhouse Ford Mustang when the 2026 NASCAR Euro Series season kicks off on April 18-19 at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. The 16-year-old is focused on taking the next step in his career, and Speedhouse is a proven team with a strong history of developing talented drivers.