Lucas Lasserre made an exciting announcement concerning the plans for his Speedhouse team in the 2022 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season. The French squad is set to field 2 cars in the upcoming season and 3 drivers are already signed. After proving himself in the Club Challenge, Paul Jouffreau will step up to the EuroNASCAR 2 Championship. Eric Quintal will also stay with the team to continue his journey in the EuroNASCAR 2 Championship. Both drivers signed two-year contracts. Lasserre himself will keep on competing for the EuroNASCAR PRO title and developing his racing team.
« It’s a special time for me and Speedhouse, because I have known Eric for a long time and we have a great relationship, » said Lasserre. « With Paul, we have a talented youngster in our team who surely will climb a steep learning curve over the season. With Eric, I’m in talks to organize some winter testing to improve the car and bring him to the next level in EuroNASCAR racing. He needs more track time and that’s why we set up a testing plan for him this winter. Paul made the step from karting to touring car racing, so auto racing was completely new for him. He did a great job and built himself a strong foundation to debut into competitive racing. »
Quintal finished 17th in points in the 2021 EuroNASCAR 2 season and fifth in the Legend Trophy classification. Jouffreau ended up third in the NWES regularity based competition – the Club Challenge. The Frenchman was just 31 points shy of the 2021 Champion Gordon Barnes. Lasserre was a title contender in EuroNASCAR PRO until the last race of the season. The Frenchman ultimately finished third in Europe’s top tier NASCAR category just 13 points behind two-time Champion Loris Hezemans. Lasserre, who was third in 2018 as well and fourth in 2020, is keen to attack up front again in 2022, but is also very proud of his teammates’ accomplishments.
« With Paul, we really had to practice all the basics: how to handle the steering wheel, to brake, accelerate and use the clutch. In karting he sat in the center of the kart and he was able to see both wheels but in EuroNASCAR you’re in the left and the view is limited. He made good progress and is now ready to make the jump into EuroNASCAR 2 and competitive racing. We will prepare him as strong as possible and he will also test during winter to be perfectly prepared for the first round of the 2022 NWES season at Hockenheimring in Germany. »
Jouffreau told ‘Leadlap.net’: « I was impressed with the car before my first start because it has impressive specifications. The car gives you confidence because it’s not that tricky. But driving it fast is something else because there are no assistance systems. It’s just pure joy. I’m not the same rider I was at the first race in Valencia and that’s where I want to highlight Club Challenge, because it gave me the time to improve without having any pressure. That’s why I’ve built up a lot of confidence for next year after the final in Vallelunga. »
With 2 EuroNASCAR 2 drivers in its ranks, Speedhouse will field a second car in the 2022 NWES season that will kick off on April 9-10 at the legendary Hockenheimring in Germany. The 3.7-kilometer track will be back in the NWES calendar after a two-year forced hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic and will host the EuroNASCAR season opener for the first time.
André Wiegold & Gian Luca Guiglia,