The racing in the NASCAR Euro Series didn’t disappoint at the weekend, with Martin Doubek claiming an impressive double victory in the Open Class at Brands Hatch.
Crowds at Brands Hatch had to brave the weather a little for the Saturday entertainment as part of the American Speedfest, with Sunday bring much drier conditions, but it certainly didn’t stop the action on the Indy Circuit.
Doubek claimed victory in the first of the NASCAR Euro Series’ Open class races of the American SpeedFest weekend at Brands Hatch on Saturday. Doubek emerged at the head of the order following a tricky race in slippery, damp conditions.
Raphael Lessard streamed into the lead early on after working his way past pole-sitter Thomas Dombrowski in the wet. It was a position he held capably for lap after lap as the race moved towards its halfway point before he ran off the track by himself on a difficult surface.
This dropped the Canadian Lessard down to 10th and handed the lead to Doubek, who’d driven up to second by that point. Doubek never looked like squandering the opportunity he’d been given from there, coasting home to the chequered flag.
Lessard offered a strong reminder of his abilities in the laps that followed though, replicating the pace he’d shown earlier on to work his way up the order and through the field. By the time the race came to a close, he was back up to second.
Gil Linster completed the podium, one place ahead of Dombrowski who achieved a hard earned fourth place after losing ground from the lead earlier on. Sandro Tavartkiladze rounded out the top-five just behind that, also claiming the Masters class win for newcomers and gentlemen drivers.
Behind him was Valentino Gambarotto, the next of the Masters drivers, before Vladimiros Tziortizis. Seventh place went to the popular Italian, Claudio Cappelli, who also took silverware for the leading Legend Trophy driver for competitors aged 45 and over. Jens Beeusaert was ninth, one spot clear of Robin Bleekemolen, the first placed female driver.
Martin Doubek was decisive in his drive to victory in the final NASCAR Euro Series race of the weekend at Brands Hatch on Sunday afternoon. By crossing the line first, the Czech driver wrapped up a clean sweep in the Open class for the weekend.
Doubek’s move for the win came after he tailed leader Sandro Tavartkiladze and Raphael Lessard during the earlier part of the race. Canadian Lessard dived for the inside at Paddock Hill Bend and, while he was able to move past the Georgian competitor ahead, Doubek made the most of the lost momentum to waltz past the pair of them.
From there, Doubek picked up where he left off on Saturday, driving home to take the spoils by just under three seconds. It was Lessard who held on to the second spot on the podium, but Tavartkiladze missed out on a visit to the rostrum, after dropping to fourth behind Thomas Dombrowski.
Tavartkiladze came home fourth at the head of a closely bunched group, with Gil Linster, Thomas Toffel, Valentino Gambarotto and Jens Beeusaert all tucked in behind. Despite missing out on victory, Tavartkiladze still received the Master Cup prize for leading gentleman or young driver.
Another prize, the Legend Trophy for drivers aged 45 and over, went the way of Italian Claudio Cappelli, who passed the chequered flag in ninth. The top 10 was completed by 16-year-old Robin Bleekemolen who ended her first weekend in NASCAR on a high note.
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