NWES in Zolder: Ercoli ensures exciting championship battle with double victory
Gianmarco Ercoli wins both EuroNASCAR PRO races at Circuit Zolder – In the championship, the Italian closes the gap to Alon Day with a double victory
It is the weekend of the double winners: after Liam Hezemans in EuroNASCAR 2, Gianmaro Ercoli also beat the competition on both days. With the two wins, he also made up some ground in the championship, while Alon Day experienced a tough weekend. The Israeli – who started for Speedhouse in Zolder – had to retire early on Sunday. On Saturday, too, the Israeli had no share in the fight for victory.
“That was the first of four wins I have to take to become NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion,” says the Italian after a dominant race. Right from the start, the CAAL driver took the lead from pole sitter Vittorio Ghirelli and took first place. This opened the battle in the 2022 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season.
Third on Saturday was Giorgio Maggi, who secured victory in the Junior Trophy. Liam Hezemans and Jonne Rautjarvi finished second and third in the under-25 classification. In the Challenger Trophy, Fabrizio Armetta had the better end for himself and benefited from Henri Tuomaala having to cut the first chicane. NWES returnee Pol van Pollaert completed the podium.
“I’m happy because today I re-opened the championship battle! The result was very good and now I go to the finals in a very good position. For the second or third year in a row I arrived at the finals with a chance to win the championship,” says Ercoli after the race.
The Italian did not let himself be ruffled by two late cautions. The first was due to a spin-off by Pol van Pollert, which ended in the gravel trap. A little later, after the restart, there was contact between Vittorio Ghirelli and Marc Goosens. Behind them, Hezemanns and Maggi could not avoid each other and collided as well. As the clean-up dragged on, the race ended under yellow. Anthony Kumpen and Sebastian Bleekemolen finished second and third.
In the Challenger Trophy, Armetta prevailed over Kenko Miura and Claudio Cappelli. Finn Rautjarvi had the best cards in the Junior Trophy. Leonardo Colavita and Thomas Dombrowski completed the podium.
In the championship, Day remains ahead thanks to the dropped results. Thanks to the double points, the initial situation promises a gripping season finale at the Automotodrom Grobnik. Day, Ercoli and Alexander Graff are only separated by eight points. The races on October 29 and 30 will be broadcast live on the EuroNASCAR YouTube channel, Motorsport.tv and several TV services from around the world.
