NASCAR is fast becoming huge in Europe and especially here in the UK. The massive crowds at the third annual U.S. Speedfest held at Brands Hatch prove the point!
Don’t believe me, then maybe you will believe Steve O’ Donnell who is one of the main men at NASCAR itself who really couldn’t believe the huge crowds and interest in NASCAR in Britain.
Brands Hatch U.S. Speedfest Review
The event was honoured to have Mr. O’ Donnell there and also Jeffrey Earnhardt who was driving the number 55 car in the Elite 1 class. I asked Earnhardt what he thought about the event ;
“It’s an awesome facility and racetrack here. The fans are awesome and it was good to meet so many of them.”
I think it’s fair to say that both men returned home with glowing praise of the event and eager to return next year. Maybe Brian France himself will visit? He will certainly be made welcome.
So to the on track action and Friday saw the test day for the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. The gates were open for fans to come in and watch for free and a surprising amount did so.
The atmosphere on pit lane was relaxed as I arrived with drivers only too happy to stop and chat. Phillip Lietz from Austria is a particuarly nice guy as is Frederic Gabillon the popular Frenchman. My main focus was Lietz’s team GDL Racing as the British/Swedish driver Freddy Nordstrom was proudly sporting the British Liver Trust logo on his car.
This was the result of six weeks hard work from my original idea from Freddy and his mother Monica plus Audrey Cornelius from the trust itself. Gian Luca Guiglia from NASCAR Europe also helped push the event and Brands Hatch themselves were very helpful. GDL Racing were very welcoming over the whole weekend and special thanks must go to them.
The Friday test sessions are all about car set up and pace for the weekend. Remember only two weeks before the teams had raced on a short track oval at Venray in The Netherlands. Freddy was amongst quite a few drivers who were having understeer and oversteer issues with their cars and all the teams worked long hours into the night to prepare the cars for the weekend.
Saturday dawned a beautiful English summer’s day and the atmosphere at Brands Hatch was one of great anticipation. With Sunday been the main day the crowds were not huge but large enough to create a good feeling to the event.
Up in the media centre I was honoured to interview Thomas Ferrando who is one of the brightest young talents in Europe. This was after a very exciting qualifying session for Elite 1 and Elite 2 that sent the pulse racing. Each class have just 8 minutes to try and make the top 12 qualifiers followed by a further 5 minute Superpole session for the lucky 12.
Race time for Elite 1 was greeted by the traditional NASCAR command of “Drivers, Start Your Engines” and the roar of a full grid of V8 stock cars was sensational. As in NASCAR itself it’s a rolling start and on the very first lap the racing was wild. Overtake followed overtake on Brands Hatch’s fabulous Indy circuit. A lot of drivers told me afterwards they were suffering from understeer and oversteer which was shown by Jeffrey Earnhardt going off into the gravel bringing out the safety car ;
Earnhardt : ” It was my own fault really as I just couldn’t get the car to do what I wanted. Not been used to the car on a tough circuit made things worse. I had a blast though and the series is awesome. I can’t wait until race two tomorrow!” Good to his word he finished a fine eigth place in a chaotic race two.
Steve O’ Donnell the Executive VP of NASCAR was also suitably impressed by the racing. I don’t think he actually knew just how popular NASCAR is in the UK ;
“I can’t believe the interest here and it’s an awesome circuit. NASCAR Europe are doing a great job!”
Sunday is the main day at Speedfest and sure enough from 7.30am fans thronged through the gates. There was a huge exhibition of old American cars and bikes and to be honest the whole event had a major US feel. A vintage no.43 Richard Petty car sounded fantastic as it turned some parade laps, and we also got to see a Monster Truck exhibition.
One of the best things about NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is the access fans get to the drivers. A huge mass of people filled pit lane as the drivers sat and signed pictures. This is particuarly important as children are thrilled to meet the stars of the race track. Who knows, in a few years time some of them could be signing autographs themselves. The biggest queue of course was for Jeffrey Earnhardt who happily posed for selfies and chatted to the fans. The British Liver Trust bucket collectors were out in force collecting donations near Freddy Nordstrom’s garage.
Walking on the track gave you the idea just how challenging Brands Hatch is. The camber at Paddock Hill bend is unreal and you can really see why so many wrecks happen there. Before the NASCAR Elite 1 race the grid was filled with fans again collecting autographs and chatting to drivers. NASCAR Europe have the access to the drivers spot on and have to be given a huge amount of praise.
Meanwhile a major announcement was made up in the media centre as reigning Champion Anthony Kumpen from Belgium announced he has a deal in place to run some Xfinity Series races in the USA. This is absolutely huge for the series and the reason that NASCAR got involved in the first place. Anthony will no doubt be the first of many to cross the Atlantic and personally I can only see him impressing in the USA. Steve O’ Donnell and Jeffrey Earnhardt were also present at the announcement and the three men posed together for pictures.
By now the crowds were huge and a visibly impressed O’ Donnell and Eanhardt made it very clear of their amazement at the interest. O’ Donnell especially was taken aback by the interest and it’s fair to say that word will be going back to Brian France about the success of Speedfest.
Race time saw the “Stars and Stripes” sung, cheerleaders on the grid and a fantastic carnival atmosphere. There was hardly a spare blade of grass or a seat to be seen as the 20,000 plus fans readied themselves for the racing. What a race too as Wilfried Boucenna was very lucky to esacape a huge wreck approaching Druids as his car flew through the air and disintegrated. Thankfully the shell was intact and as Boucenna crawled out of his car everybody was thankful for the safety of these stock cars. Another NASCAR tradition, the Green, White, Checker finish saw two time champion Ander Vilarino storm to a race win.
The aforementioned Thomas Ferrando drove beautifully to win Elite 2 which was especially satisfying for the young Frenchman after he wrecked in race one on Saturday. All too soon Speedfest was over for another year sadly and the list of winners over the weekend was ;
Elite 1-Romain Ianetta
Ander Vilarino
Elite 2-Florian Renauer
Thomas Ferrando
Final concusions are that Speedfest will grow and grow every year and the series itself is well on it’s way to becoming the most popular in Europe. The driver access is vital especially for children and the off track events are fantastic. It’s my personal belief that interest in the UK is big enough to host two rounds with possibly Silverstone’s National curcuit been ideal. One day I’m sure a second round will happen in time and I’m also certain that NASCAR’s Sprint Cup will eventually feature drivers who have emerged from the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series!
