By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
NASCAR Next graduate Julia Landauer joins PK Carsport for the full 2020 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Elite 2 season.
The 28-year-old took part in the NWES recruitment drive in December. During that recruitment drive Landauer tested NWES vehicles on both ovals and road courses, in different conditions. She even tested on the oval in wet conditions.
Landauer is the first participant from the recruitment program to announce plans for the 2020 season. By doing so, she has also announced that she will compete with the top Belgian team owned but 2016 NWES Elite 1 Champion Anthony Kumpen.
“My goal for 2020 was to find a series that I could race full-time in,” Landauer explained. “A few people told me about the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and how competitive and fun the series is, so I did research and thought it would be an awesome series to race in.”
“I wanted to race full time for a competitive team and PK Carsport is just that. I was introduced to Anthony Kumpen a few months ago and we had good discussions, so I’m really looking forward to working with him and the team, learning more about the cars, and fighting for wins every race.”
The 2014 Stanford University graduate last competed full-time in NASCAR competition in 2017. Landauer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Science, Technology, and Society from Stanford.
In two full-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series West (now ARCA Menards West) seasons, Landauer earned eight top-five and 20 top-10 finishes. Her best finish was a runner-up at Meridian Speedway in 2016. That season she finished fourth in the final points standings.
Since then, Landauer has competed part-time in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series. In 2019 at Jukasa Motor Speedway she became the first woman to lead a lap in series history. Landauer followed that up with a top-10 finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
“At PK Carsport are all enthusiastic to have Julia Landauer in our team for 2020,” PK Carsport team owner Anthony Kumpen stated. “She’s a very talented driver, she proved she can deliver very good results and that’s exactly what we want at PK Carsport: to race at the front with both our cars in both NWES championships.”
“Expectations will be high for her and we’ll do our best to help her become the first woman to win a NWES championship. We’re very excited about this and we think she’s a perfect fit for our team. We’re looking forward to a great season with Julia at the wheel of a PK Carsport car!”
The NWES season starts at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain April 25. NWES then goes to other historic European road courses including Brands Hatch, Circuit Zolder, and the Hockenheimring. The only oval for NWES will be July 11 at Raceway Venray.
“I’m really excited to race on road courses all over Europe and I liked how the car handled in the Recruitment Day,” Landauer admitted. “My goal is to run up front, win races, and contend for the championship. And to have a lot of fun. There are so many great tracks! I’m particularly excited for Valencia and the oval in The Netherlands.”
PK Carsport will announce which car Landauer will drive before the 2020 NWES season debut.