Brands Hatch, UK – Solaris Motorsport conquered the first Euro NASCAR podium in front of the 50 thousands fans that filled up the sixth edition of the American SpeedFest at Brands Hatch. The long awaited arrival of the brand new Chevrolet Camaro propitiated the achievement of the best result of the season, with Francesco Sini able to gain the third place in the ELITE 1 Round 5 on Saturday. A contact in the first laps of the Round 6, just after the Camaro posted the fastest lap of the race, forced Solaris Motorsport to settle for a position outside a Top10 the team could reach easily. The result of Saturday helped to bring Italy on the special NASCAR Whelen Euro Series’ Nation Cup podium.

“First race with the Camaro and first podium in Euro NASCAR: just a coincidence? Jokes aside, I’m very happy about our race, we were quick and competitive all the weekend long on an unknown for us track. The contact on Sunday race was a pity, I was just signed the fastest lap of the race and I was recovering as on Saturday, but in the crash something on the rear broke and the car started to be slippery.” commented Francesco Sini. The Italian has earned at the same time his first podium, his first Top5 and his first Top10 in NASCAR. “I want to dedicate this result to our engineer Loreto, that could not be with us this weekend. His meticulous work on the car and on the setup brought us to this podium. About the race, I want to thank and I want to congrats with the Brands Hatch’s American Speedfest and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series organizators: 50 thousands people on track, fans everywhere, infinite and wonderful autograph sessions and entire families with kids enjoying our show is something really incredible. I didn’t see something like that since long time and it makes our job even greater. Racing like this, in front of this grandstands full of passion, is something special! Well done!”

“The hard work at home has paid off and finally, in a race without problems, Francesco did an outstanding comeback and we brought home a great result.” commented Roberto Sini, Solaris Motorsport Team Principal. “Fourth under the checkered flag few tenths far from the podium and third after the post race  penalty of Goossens means we are working in the right direction. But now we want to reach the podium on track. The level of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is incredible, when in the qualifying session you have 24 drivers in less than a second ‘every tenth counts’ is not a way of saying. To conquer our first podium in NASCAR, with the Camaro, in front of 50 thousands people makes this moment even more special!”

The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series moves now in France for a new great appointment: the Oval World Challenge scheduled on the typically US style short track based in the Tours downtown. A completely new challenge for Solaris Motorsport to face on 30 June – 1 July weekend.

Massimiliano Palumbo