Jump to content


Photo

Hey fellers, NASCAR is coming to Europe


  • Please log in to reply
37 replies to this topic

#1 loki

loki
  • Member

  • 12,106 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 31 March 2012 - 04:35

I searched but didn't see any mention of this in any of other threads....

EURO-RACECAR, now a NASCAR touring series in Europe, debuts April 7th with an oval debut in July. They've been around for a few years but this is the first under the NASCAR banner.


Topping the attractions for the festival that includes, concerts, rodeos and many other events, a temporary .373-mile (600m) oval will be constructed and called ‘Tours Speedway.’ The festival in its sixth year has an American-theme and is expected to attract upwards of 50,000 visitors.

“This fourth race of the regular season, but the first one in Europe on an oval track will give (spectators) the opportunity to see 60 highly-motivated drivers behind the steering wheels of their V8-powered race cars,” said Jérôme Galpin, CEO of Team FJ, who created the series.



http://hometracks.na...gins_NASCAR_Era



Advertisement

#2 AdHoc

AdHoc
  • Member

  • 223 posts
  • Joined: January 08

Posted 31 March 2012 - 06:01

That's rather... unexpected :confused:

Crazy, but I think it won't work as stock-car racing is unknown in Europe.

It's already difficult to promote F1 or any other type of racing, imagine Nascar... We have the Sprint Cup & Nationwide on TV in France, and the interest is growing, but I don't think it will ever be successful around here, sadly.

Edited by AdHoc, 31 March 2012 - 09:09.


#3 loki

loki
  • Member

  • 12,106 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 31 March 2012 - 06:09

They've been running as EURO RACECAR for four seasons on road circuits. Never heard of them until now.

http://www.racecarseries.com/

#4 AdHoc

AdHoc
  • Member

  • 223 posts
  • Joined: January 08

Posted 31 March 2012 - 06:19

Oh yea, Racecar I knew about, I even saw one running @Magny-Cours in 2010 (at the WSbR weekend). Didn't know it was called Euro-Racecar though.

#5 bobban86

bobban86
  • Member

  • 107 posts
  • Joined: May 06

Posted 31 March 2012 - 06:37

Could be interesting...

#6 GSiebert

GSiebert
  • Member

  • 2,206 posts
  • Joined: November 07

Posted 31 March 2012 - 08:43

How can they claim to be the doorstep for European drivers in Nascar when the calendar has no oval tracks ...

#7 femi

femi
  • Member

  • 8,288 posts
  • Joined: March 04

Posted 31 March 2012 - 08:44

They can count on me not to watch it.



#8 cheapracer

cheapracer
  • Member

  • 10,388 posts
  • Joined: May 07

Posted 31 March 2012 - 09:08

Sensible that I reckon will have a good solid base. Cars are cheap (including running and maintenance), very fast and spectacular.

There's a few other series in the world using a similar if not the same chassis and engine.



#9 Darrenj

Darrenj
  • Member

  • 1,663 posts
  • Joined: March 01

Posted 31 March 2012 - 11:23

I put my comment here just to get that extra post count.
comment...

#10 Red17

Red17
  • Member

  • 3,921 posts
  • Joined: April 11

Posted 31 March 2012 - 12:24

They have been running for at least 2 years, mainly a support series for the french championships, the difference this year is that they got Nascar's name to it. The cars are the same the mexicans are running in Nascar Mexico.

It's a bit of a odd concept, they run mostly in road courses. Races are endurance and the entries are mostly semi-retired and gentleman drivers.

I dont see much future in it personally

#11 Rob

Rob
  • Member

  • 9,223 posts
  • Joined: February 01

Posted 31 March 2012 - 13:49

We have Rockingham and the Eurospeedway amongst other ovals in Europe. They ought to at least use those two.

This won't take off though. It's been tried many times.

#12 pingu666

pingu666
  • Member

  • 9,272 posts
  • Joined: October 07

Posted 31 March 2012 - 13:59

so 50% more cars and a oval shorter than bristol or martinsville? hahahah :D:D:D

#13 Sausage

Sausage
  • Member

  • 1,820 posts
  • Joined: October 09

Posted 31 March 2012 - 14:22



I know where I'll be on April 7th!

#14 loki

loki
  • Member

  • 12,106 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 01 April 2012 - 04:30

There is one oval.... From my post above that didn't quite read it :wave:

a temporary .373-mile (600m) oval will be constructed and called ‘Tours Speedway.’


From the looks of it according to the article NASCAR is more an advisory element than anything else though they are using the name. Looks like the rules are roughly the same as they were in prior seasons.

#15 Giannazzo

Giannazzo
  • Member

  • 37 posts
  • Joined: November 10

Posted 16 July 2012 - 10:03

Hi everybody,

Id like to show you a couple of interviews I did with Ben Kennedy and Ander Vilarino, the first before the Tours oval race, and the second a couple of days after. The english versions are at the bottom of the pages, hope you enjoy :-)

http://motorsportran...series-a-tours/

http://motorsportran...scar-in-europa/


:)

#16 V8 Fireworks

V8 Fireworks
  • Member

  • 10,824 posts
  • Joined: June 06

Posted 16 July 2012 - 13:00

so 50% more cars and a oval shorter than bristol or martinsville? hahahah :D:D:D

more than one driver per car?

It's good to see NASCAR endorsing this series at least.

I wonder how the safety specs of these car stack up?
It is a shame the diversity of Europe makes it hard to put together a good little series with sponsors not necessarily reaching across the entire place, or amateurs not necessarily wanting to lug their race car across the continent to do their racing... If there were 2-3 rounds supporting the BTCC you'd imagine it would be a popular addition there, not to mention the chance to use the Rockingham oval course! :)

#17 Imperial

Imperial
  • Member

  • 4,820 posts
  • Joined: February 02

Posted 16 July 2012 - 18:05

We've already had Ascar, this isn't new.

#18 maverick69

maverick69
  • Member

  • 5,975 posts
  • Joined: April 09

Posted 16 July 2012 - 18:25

Lol.

Let's make the cars look like mk1 Mondeos and send them around Mallory and the Melbourne Loop...... That'll get em through the gates!........... Oh wait?!!!

Edited by maverick69, 16 July 2012 - 18:31.


#19 maverick69

maverick69
  • Member

  • 5,975 posts
  • Joined: April 09

Posted 16 July 2012 - 18:31

Much rather spend the extra dosh and go see a race in the US TBH..........

Advertisement

#20 Magoo

Magoo
  • Member

  • 3,703 posts
  • Joined: October 10

Posted 16 July 2012 - 19:00

We've already had Ascar, this isn't new.


I was gonna say. Whatever happened to ASCAR, anyway? Does it still exist?


#21 DrProzac

DrProzac
  • Member

  • 2,405 posts
  • Joined: June 11

Posted 16 July 2012 - 20:15

Good luck. Why not? The more motor racing the better! :)

#22 Xpat

Xpat
  • Member

  • 17,673 posts
  • Joined: February 10

Posted 16 July 2012 - 21:16

Let them run at Ascot as part of the Royal Ascot.

They'll be just drunk enough to enjoy it.

#23 gm914

gm914
  • Member

  • 6,046 posts
  • Joined: September 09

Posted 16 July 2012 - 22:54

If you listen closely, you can hear Steven Wallace learning metric and filling out a Passport Application Form.

#24 Red17

Red17
  • Member

  • 3,921 posts
  • Joined: April 11

Posted 17 July 2012 - 12:23

I know this series is basically about cost saving spec cars. But this year I always wondered how a Nationwide car (don't think Nascar allows cup car specs in lower tiers) would look like if someone tried to make those cars look like european.

Toyota would certainly get away with it easey, that Camry front looks very Corolla. The dodges would be renamed Lancias, Chevys for Opels and Ford would probably try to stick in a Focus decal.

But then again, Nascar is suposed to be all about american racing and penalising Kurt right?

#25 wrighty

wrighty
  • Member

  • 3,794 posts
  • Joined: November 06

Posted 17 July 2012 - 12:31

I was gonna say. Whatever happened to ASCAR, anyway? Does it still exist?


ASCAR collapsed a couple of years ago with teams waiting for sponsors who were waiting for teams who were all waiting for series sponsors.....the allied noise problems and restrictions at Rockingham (the only main oval left on the calendar iirc) saw it off unfortunately. I'd like to see the Euro Racecar series do better and enhance the NASCAR brand in this country and on the continental mainland, as they seem to have got it to a decent level on the quiet (but what i saw of the Tours venue was a nightmare....turns across a cambered car park were horrible)....bring Mallory back in or even use heat races and a final at Ipswich or Hednesford (or even Blyton, which has a good tarmac squared-oval perimeter) along with Brands Hatch Indy (without that new 'camera-friendly' double hairpin) and Donington Melbourne oval and there's potential for plenty of UK support too.

#26 Risil

Risil
  • Administrator

  • 61,516 posts
  • Joined: February 07

Posted 17 July 2012 - 12:34

I was gonna say. Whatever happened to ASCAR, anyway? Does it still exist?


According to Wikipedia it was eventually absorbed into the European Late Model Series, which races mostly in Belgium and the Netherlands but also at Ipswich and Lydden Hill. The days of Jason Plato and Nic Minassian racing around Rockingham (Northants) are long since past, however. :(

What interests me most about it is that a relatively small race series splitting its calendar between Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands appears to be viable.

Edited by Risil, 17 July 2012 - 12:36.


#27 TimRTC

TimRTC
  • Member

  • 1,282 posts
  • Joined: March 12

Posted 20 July 2012 - 23:20

Saw these guys at Brands Hatch and it was incredibly good fun - always close racing and the Indy circuit has a suitably short American feel to it. I would definitely travel down to see them again next year. There were a couple of big shunts, but the carbon fibre bodywork probably made the impacts look a lot worse than they really were. Some shots from the Saturday:

Posted Image
Romain Thievin leads a swarming pack of NASCARs around Paddock Hill Bend by Tim R-T-C, on Flickr

Posted Image
Simon Escallier racing hard around Brands Hatch by Tim R-T-C, on Flickr

Posted Image
Alain Grand holding off Ben Anderson and Martin Van Hove for third place by Tim R-T-C, on Flickr

Posted Image
Franck Violas escapes his stricken stock car by Tim R-T-C, on Flickr

#28 pingu666

pingu666
  • Member

  • 9,272 posts
  • Joined: October 07

Posted 21 July 2012 - 00:09

nice pics :D

#29 OfficeLinebacker

OfficeLinebacker
  • Member

  • 14,088 posts
  • Joined: December 07

Posted 21 July 2012 - 00:10

If you listen closely, you can hear Steven Wallace learning metric and filling out a Passport Application Form.

:rotfl:

#30 OfficeLinebacker

OfficeLinebacker
  • Member

  • 14,088 posts
  • Joined: December 07

Posted 21 July 2012 - 00:15

Not bad. Any videos?

#31 Slowinfastout

Slowinfastout
  • Member

  • 9,681 posts
  • Joined: October 07

Posted 21 July 2012 - 00:59

There were a couple of big shunts, but the carbon fibre bodywork probably made the impacts look a lot worse than they really were.


Carbon Fiber? more likely fiberglass... like my dad's 40 yrs old canoe.

Edited by Slowinfastout, 21 July 2012 - 01:01.


#32 gm914

gm914
  • Member

  • 6,046 posts
  • Joined: September 09

Posted 21 July 2012 - 01:01

Carbon Fiber?

I thought the same thing :|

"Welcome to the Debris City 300."

#33 Slowinfastout

Slowinfastout
  • Member

  • 9,681 posts
  • Joined: October 07

Posted 21 July 2012 - 01:03

No way these car have carbon fiber bodies unless there's some certifiably mad oil sheik behind the project. :)

They look good in those pics though, they have a similar shape but for some reason look less cheap and rough than the Canadian Tire series cars.

Edited by Slowinfastout, 21 July 2012 - 01:05.


#34 loki

loki
  • Member

  • 12,106 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 21 July 2012 - 03:17

Carbon Fiber? more likely fiberglass... like my dad's 40 yrs old canoe.


It's either plastic or hand laid composite of fiberglass and foam, though not CF. Common on lower division stock car bodies over here.

http://www.fivestarb.......oduct&id=13

Edited by loki, 21 July 2012 - 03:19.


#35 Giannazzo

Giannazzo
  • Member

  • 37 posts
  • Joined: November 10

Posted 27 July 2012 - 19:28

I got in touch with Ben Kennedy for a couple more questions about his experience in Tours.

He said he had a lot of fun in his first experience with a radial tire in race conditions on a damp track :-)

http://motorsportran...ato-fantastico/

#36 Magoo

Magoo
  • Member

  • 3,703 posts
  • Joined: October 10

Posted 28 July 2012 - 11:05

If you listen closely, you can hear Steven Wallace learning metric and filling out a Passport Application Form.


Okay, I LOL'ed.




#37 Longtimefan

Longtimefan
  • Member

  • 3,170 posts
  • Joined: October 08

Posted 28 July 2012 - 11:17

but but but... we don't want Nascrap here. :(


#38 Jimisgod

Jimisgod
  • Member

  • 4,954 posts
  • Joined: July 09

Posted 28 July 2012 - 13:33

NASCAR cars race quite nice and close on road courses, mostly because they seem to be absolutely and completely unsuited to it.