Two GT4 Germany champions to make their NASCAR debut for Marko Stipp in Grobnik
Mike David Ortmann and Hugo Sasse will make their debuts for Marko Stipp Motorsport at the EuroNASCAR finale in Croatia – The two recently won the GT4 Germany title together
Yevgen Sokolovskiy will miss the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (NWES) finale at Automotodrom Grobnik. However, the #48 Chevrolet Camaro will not be parked, but driven by two very successful youngsters. Recently crowned GT4 Germany champions Mike David Ortmann and Hugo Sasse will make their EuroNASCAR debut, competing as non-championship drivers in the last event of the season for German team Marko Stipp Motorsport.
Ortmann, who will race in EuroNASCAR PRO, outs himself to ‘EuroNASCAR.com’ as a NASCAR enthusiast: “I’m a huge fan of US NASCAR racing and I have been watching all the races,” says Ortmann. “I’m really happy to compete for Marko Stipp Motorsport in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. I have no specific expectations but I want to have fun and score the best possible result. I have huge respect for the car and the grid.
“The tension is high and I’m looking forward to wrestling a EuroNASCAR car around the track. It will be for sure a delight! Yevgen and I became friends in GT4 and I took the opportunity as driving a NASCAR car was always one of the biggest dreams in my life,” enthuses the 22-year-old race driver from Berlin. For Ortmann, the switch from a GT4 car to a EuroNASCAR vehicle without much downforce and no driving aids whatsoever will certainly be an exciting challenge.
The same applies to 18-year-old Sasse, who is also looking forward to his first NASCAR start: “I want to gather experience in the racing series and therefore I focus on having fun instead of hunting results. As David, I have a lot of respect for the car and the drivers in the series. The racing is something completely different than in GT4. I’m really looking forward to the intense battles with the other competitors.” Advice from Sokolovskiy regarding the handling of the car should make the adapting phase as short as possible, according to Sasse.
The NWES finale will take place on October 29 and 30 and will be streamed live on the series’ official YouTube channel. Although Ortmann and Sasse will not score any points in the only playoff event of the 2022 season, there is still something up for grabs: Ortmann will be fighting for trophies in the Junior Trophy and Sasse for silverware in the Rookie Trophy. It will certainly be an instructive race weekend for both Germans.
