Consistent performance for Double T by DAV Racing at Raceway Venray
PICTURE (Credits: NWES / Stephane Azemard)
Venray, Netherlands - With thousands of fans crowding the Raceway Venray grandstands to enjoy the first 2015 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series oval round, the Double T by DAV Racing team made its debut on this kind of track. Despite some technical issue that slowed the cars and the mechanics’ work, the drivers of the Italian team brought home important results on the half mile oval located in the Netherlands. Ercoli was able to keep his ELITE 2 points lead on Ferrando, Simone Laureti won twice the Gentleman Trophy classification, while Benedetti brought home a Top 3 in the ELITE 1 Challenger Trophy.
After the race weekend in the Netherlands, Gianmarco Ercoli, fifth and third at the end of the two 60 laps races, can be satisfied to be still the ELITE 2 points leader. The Italian driver, at his debut on a short track with a high banking (21°), was a protagonist in both races, being one of the fastest drivers on track and showing a smart race tactic, staying away from troubles on an unforgiving track: “It was a fantastic experience! Venray is a very tricky oval, both on the driving and the physical side. However, it wasn't one of best weekend for us, we had some trouble on the cars but I have to thank our crew for their incredible job. All in all, we were able to post good performances, even if we never tested on this kind of track.” said the #9 Double T by DAV Racing Chevrolet SS driver, winner of the season opener in Valencia three weeks ago: “The experience gained in Tours last year was fundamental, when I came to Venray I already had the idea of what to expect and what would be the difficulties. We were able to bring home the best we could and we are still on top of the ELITE 2 standings, managing as well as we can the points advantage.” The 20 year old driver made its debut also in the ELITE 1 Division, taking the green flag in Saturday’s Race 1. It was a good test for the ROK world karting champion, who wants to become a US NASCAR driver: “It was a very interesting training for me, I had the chance to see how competitive are the ELITE 1 protagonists. I’d like to race there next year! Anyway, now we are focused on the ELITE 2 championship and the next race in Brands Hatch, we have to widen advantage in points,” concluded Ercoli. 12 months ago he debuted in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series on the historical British track that will host next round of the 2015 season.
Simone Laureti, on his #12 Double T by DAV Racing Chevrolet Camaro, confirmed himself as one of the best ELITE 2 Gentleman drivers, conquering two wins in this classification. Laureti is now the Gentleman Trophy leader with more than twice the points of the first rival. The Rome-native driver was close to the Top10 in both races under the checkered flag, thank to a clean race behaviour, improving his performances during all the weekend.
Poor luck for Roberto Benedetti, winner of the ELITE 1 Challenger Trophy in Valencia. The expert Italian driver started well his weekend in Netherlands, posting some good times in practice. Unfortunately, due a hydraulic problem in FP2, Benedetti had to skip the qualifying session and also the Race 1, due to the short time between the sessions in Venray that prevented the team from finishing the repairs on his Chevrolet Camaro. In the Sunday race, the Rome-native driver conquered the second step of the podium in the Challenger Trophy, taking the Top 3 in point in the category.
After the first two rounds of the 2015 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season, Team Manager Onofrio Veneziani is quite satisfied: “It was a real good season start and also here, in a our debut on an oval track, we showed good performances despite some technical trouble. Our mechanics did a stunning job! One overall victory, Ercoli leader in ELITE 2 Division, Laureti fist in ELITE 2 Gentlemen Trophy and Benedetti third in ELITE 1 Challenger: they all show how good is our project and how committed are our partner, like DAV Racing and Scuderia PCR. Now we have to keep working this way to improve again our performances!” commented the Italian manager.
The third edition of American Speed Fest will be the next round of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, taking place on June 6th and 7h. Last year, the US-themed event brought to Brands Hatch more than 18.000 fans