By Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
There’s always time for something new and we will see it in the NASCAR Pinty’s and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in 2018.
For the first time in NASCAR history, two international series will exchange two drivers for a race in each other’s championship. This debut exchange will take place at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (GP3R) in August and in October at the Euro Series finale at Zolder in Belgium.
Spectra PremiumTM, which has developed high-performance radiators for several stock car series and recently launched its automotive parts for the European market, made this driver exchange possible.
Jason Best, Senior Vice-President, Aftermarket, Spectra Premium Industries, said the exchange will not only highlight Spectra’s commitment as a sponsor of motorsport but also the talent of both series.
“Earlier this year, we reached new milestones in the development of a competitive high-performance radiator,” Best said. “And now we are turning to this driver exchange program to bolster our visibility in Europe.
The Euro Series driver, who will compete in the Pinty’s Series at GP3R, will be determined by the final Whelen Euro Series standings, the champion of the series. This European guest racer will drive a Spectra PremiumTM team car on the famous Canadian GP3R street course on August 12.
Jerome Galpin, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series President / CEO, outlined the importance of opportunity for these European and Canadian drivers and feels it’s healthy to have them come together in 2018.
“Among the goals we set with for the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, providing this kind of opportunity for our drivers is a very important one,” Galpin said. “I am particularly happy to see our points leader cross the Atlantic to race at Trois-Rivières. It reinforces the great relationship between NASCAR Series at an international level and gives our drivers one more chance to shine.”
On October 20, Canadian driver and Spectra PremiumTM Ambassador Jean-Francois Dumoulin will compete in the Euro Whelen series finale at Zolder, the second race of this driver exchange.
“Adding this fantastic opportunity in Canada to the races in the US, we add important recognition to our Championship and Trophy winners,” Galpin continued. “This development confirms that the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is definitely one of the most attractive championships in Europe for every kind of driver.”