A NASCAR first: European and Canadian drivers will trade places

For the first time in NASCAR history, the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and the NASCAR Pinty’s Series will exchange drivers for one race in each other’s championship later this season.

This exchange will take place at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (GP3R) in August (10-11-12), and in October (19-20-21) at the Euro Whelen season final at Zolder in Belgium.

Pinty’s Series veteran Jean-Francois Dumoulin will compete in Zolder with the Whelen Euro Series in October while the points leader for the Euro Series after this weekend’s events in Tours, France, will compete at Trois-Rivieres in the GP3R event in August.

Spectra-Premium, already involved in the Canadian-based series, is helping make this possible and has launched a campaign to enter the European market.

“This exciting idea creates an opportunity to showcase two major initiatives that were implemented in 2017: Spectra Premium’s commitment as a manufacturer and sponsor of motorsports, and its recent launch into the European market,” said Jason Best, Senior Vice-President, Aftermarket, Spectra Premium Industries.

“Earlier this year, we reached new milestones in the development of a competitive high-performance radiator that helps in bringing teams to Victory Lane. Now, we are turning to this driver exchange program to bolster our visibility in Europe.”

The European guest racer will drive a Spectra PremiumTM team car on the famous Canadian GP3R street course.

For Whelen Euro Series President and CEO, Jerome Galpin, this is just another opportunity to bring some of the best stock car drivers in Europe across the Atlantic to compete in a NASCAR series.

“Among the goals we set with for the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, providing this kind of opportunity for our drivers is a very important one, so I am particularly happy to see our points leader cross the Atlantic to race at Trois-Rivières,” said Galpone. “It reinforces the great relationship between NASCAR series at an international level and gives our drivers one more chance to shine.”

Galpin has been dedicated since his series became NASCAR sanctioned to bring his drivers to the home base of NASCAR.

“Adding this fantastic opportunity in Canada to the races in the US, we add important recognition to our Championship and Trophy winners,” he added. “This development confirms that the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is definitely one of the most attractive championships in Europe for every kind of driver.”

Dumoulin, the Canadian driver and Spectra PremiumTM Ambassador, will compete in the Euro Whelen series final Elite 1 event for 2018 at Zolder, the spectacular Belgian track, in the second race of this driver exchange.

“We started discussing the possibilities of this exchange project five years ago, always looking for realistic ways to make it happen,” said Dumoulin. “I thought it was a great idea and really wanted to be part of it. As Ambassador for Spectra PremiumTM, building relationships that would help us move successfully into the European markets was always at the forefront of my thinking.

“As a driver, hosting the Elite 1 Champion of the Euro Whelen Series at the Trois-Rivières Grand Prix is an honour for our team as well as for Spectra Premium. We all feel the same way about our visit to Zolder, the famous Belgian track, for the Euro Cup final, a major event for all concerned. This marks a notable first for both NASCAR Pinty’s and Euro Whelen series.”