Last weekend marked the official start of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series championship at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valence.
The entire Speedhouse team was fully mobilized for this first event of the 2026 season, with the objective of building strong foundations right from the championship opener. After several months of preparation, this weekend provided the opportunity to get back into race conditions, assess performance, and begin the first technical adjustments.
In an increasingly competitive environment, the drivers fought hard on track and proudly represented the team and its partners. This opening round marks the beginning of what promises to be an intense season, offering great opportunities for visibility and performance.
MARC GOOSSENS
Yes, we had a really good weekend, I think. The decision to enter the championship was made very late, just a week before the start, so we can be truly proud of what we achieved. We significantly improved the car right from the beginning. In terms of setup, I think we worked very well with Benjamin, our engineer. Lucas was also heavily involved in improving the chassis, which clearly made a difference.
During the races, it seemed like we were lacking a bit of power compared to some competitors, but the overall package is continuing to improve. I’m very happy with the setup we found on the car. These improvements also gave Maxime a better car to work with, especially during the Open sessions. I’m really pleased to see his progress. There’s a lot of ambition and strong motivation for the rest of the season.
MAXIM VAN LAERE
Coming out of Valencia, I’m really happy with the overall results. We are currently leading the Masters Championship, thanks to a win in the first race on Saturday and a P3 finish on Sunday. We’re also sitting eighth overall in the standings, which is a very positive outcome.
We didn’t expect to be in this position for my first race in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, but we’ll keep building, improving, and pushing forward. The goal is clear: to stay competitive and fight for more victories throughout the season.
YANN CRISTOVAO
The three Rookie Challenge sessions were completed this morning, and I finished second out of 20, which is a very strong result.
I’m really happy with my weekend because we worked a lot beforehand, and it clearly paid off. I would like to thank my partners and my family for their support throughout the season. We will keep pushing forward with the goal of performing at every race.
VLADIMIROS TZIORTZIS
So, the first race weekend of the season is now over here in Valencia. We had extremely good results in the Open category, with P5 yesterday in Race 1 and P4 today in Race 2. A strong start to the championship, with points very close to the top.
In PRO, it was more complicated yesterday due to an unavoidable crash. However, we made a great comeback today, moving from P22 to P11, scoring valuable points. We have dropped yesterday’s result due to the incident, so P11 gives us solid points, and we now focus on the next round.
NUNO CAETANO
We managed to score points today, which is important for the championship. We probably pushed a bit too hard on some laps, which were unfortunately deleted due to track limits. It’s frustrating, but part of the game, and we’ll learn from it moving forward. Next race in France at the Circuit Paul Ricard.
BRAD RANSON
Overall, a good weekend here at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
In Race 1, we managed to complete a few laps, but were involved in a minor incident which caused some tire rub. However, we bounced back well in Race 2, finishing P3 in the Challenger class as a C-rated driver. So overall, a positive weekend. Thanks to Speedhouse and the whole team.
HENRI TIMONEN
Yeah, the race went okay. I’m still a bit disappointed with my pace, but I managed to avoid any major mistakes, stay out of trouble, and gain a few positions. I finished P4 in the Masters category (P13 overall), which is a solid result to build on. On Sunday, we had a technical issue on lap two. Despite that, the feeling was very good and the team did a great job. The championship is really great and very well organized.
ANDREAS KUCHELBACHER
A slightly challenging start to the season with a few technical issues, but the most important thing is there: we managed to finish the race and score valuable championship points.The season is still long and everything is still to play for. We’ll keep working and improving to come back even stronger for the next rounds.
GIANNI LASSERRE
Three Rookie Challenge sessions to discover the track and progressively build my references. The feeling was good, and the work is starting to pay off. I eventually finished in 11th position, despite a few track limits penalties that cost me some time. A solid foundation for what’s next, with still plenty of room for improvement.
Lucas LASSERRE – Tam OWNER : « I am very happy to have started this new season but mainly to have started a new era. Whether it’s the drivers, the technical staff, our general organization or our new partners, I saw that our global strategy was exactly in the right position, in the right direction, and where I want to be. It’s encouraging and we will continue to push in this direction.
Based on the results, we performed well in each category with a significant number of podium places. I want to congratulate Yann, Max, Brad, and Henri. They did a great job. Marc and Vladi in V8GP did the work by bringing back important points but above all by developing the car. Marc was very strong in Race 2 and it’s encouraging. Vladi will play for the Open Championship title and we will put our strength into the battle.
« Finally, Nuno, Andreas have taken important points for the ROOKIE championship and the title will be decided until the final in Zolder. Gianni, being the youngest driver in NASCAR history, was flawless for a first race and it’s very encouraging for the rest of the season. »
Now, head for our French GP round which will take place on the Paul Ricard circuit at Castellet.