NASCAR Euro Series Rookie Challenge

American thunder rumbling across Europe!

The NASCAR Euro Series is one of NASCAR’s four international contests and the only one held outside of North and South America.

A typical season will consist of six or seven rounds at circuits around Europe, with a typical event format including track activity over three days (Friday to Sunday, except for Zolder where sessions begin Thursday). The Rookie Challenge acts as a ‘curtain raiser’ on Friday mornings, with free practice followed by two competitive sessions. The Open and Pro V8GP categories practice on Friday afternoons with qualifying and races, held on Saturdays and Sundays.

Every NASCAR GP event includes driver autograph sessions, grid walks and off-track attractions and activities.

2025

After completing the series’ official test sessions in previous years I stepped up to the Rookie Challenge category in 2025. The championship visits some of Europe’s best racing circuits including Circuit Zolder in Belgium and Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic.

CirCuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia

Built in the late 1990s to capitalise on the popularity of motorcycle racing in Spain, the circuit hosts a variety of motorsports including MotoGP, GT racing, Formula singe seaters and the NASCAR Euro Series.

AUTODROM MOST, CZECH REPUBLIC

A superb 2.6 mile (or 4.2 km) circuit located on the edge of the city of Most in the Labem Region of the country. Hnevin Castle sits on a hill to the east of the venue, and this famous landmark is a key part of the circuit’s branding and marketing. I classified sixth in the Rookie Challenge category of the 2025 NASCAR GP Czech Republic.

Pre-race seat fitting in the #1 Academy/Alex Caffi Motorsport NASCAR car. — Getting comfortable in the car.

Driver helmet and NASCAR Euro Series windscreen decals. — In the pit garage.

Academy/Alex Caffi Motorsport NASCAR car in pit garage at Autodrom Most, 2025. — Waiting for the next Rookie Challenge session.

#1 NASCAR Euro Series car leaving pit garage at Autodrom Most. — Leaving the pit garage.

Cars #1 and #13 on track in the NASCAR Euro Series — Cars #1 and #13 on track.

Car #1 and car #55 on track in the NASCAR Euro Series — Battling the elements.

Car #1 and car #33 on track in the NASCAR Euro Series — In pursuit in Czechia.

Car #1 and car #76 in the turn one chicane at Autodrom Most — Turn one chicane.

Daniel Boys in the #1 Academy/Alex Caffi Motorsport NASCAR Euro Series car in the Rookie Challenge at Autodrom Most in wet conditions. — Driving in challenging conditions.

Academy/Alex Caffi Motorsport #1 NASCAR on track at Autodrom Most with Hnevin Castle in the background — Cars and castles.

#1 NASCAR Euro Series car racing at Autodrom Most — Pushing for points.

Academy/Alex Caffi Motorsport #1 NASCAR car at Autodrom Most — Drying track surface.

NASCAR Euro Series car #1 on the main straight at Most — On the main straight.

CIRCUIT ZOLDER, BELGIUM

Zolder is a former Formula 1 circuit and, like Monza in Italy, set within municipal parkland. The track hosted ten F1 races in the 1970s and 80s and still presents a good mix of long straights, fast corners and tight chicanes.

NASCAR cars #21 and #17 in the pit garages — Circuit Zolder pit garages.

Image of the start/finish line and main grandstands at Circuit Zolder — Start/finish line and main grandstands.

Driver safety equipment inside a pit garage — Drivers’ rest area.

Driver in pit garage holding radio earplugs — Getting ready for the next Rookie Challenge session.

Driver sitting in NASCAR Euro Series car #17 wearing safety equipment — In the car, ready to go.

NASCAR car on the pit exit lane — Leaving pit road.

Car #17 driving through a chicane — Tackling the chicanes.

NASCAR Euro Series car #17 — Lapping Zolder.

More laps completed, as the last round of the Rookie Challenge gets underway.

Two NASCARS racing towards a chicane — A legendary track.

NASCAR cars at the first corner of Circuit Zolder — Exiting Earste turn.

2024

A second visit to Circuits de Vendée to complete further test laps in a NASCAR Euro Series car.

2023

My first test sessions with the NASCAR Euro Series at Circuits de Vendée in November 2023.