NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - Ferrando Wins Breathtaking Battle

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Nurburgring 200 - ELITE 2 Saturday Race

Ferrando Wins Breathtaking Battle

French Rookie outduels Tineo Arroyo and Dumarey

Nurburgring, Germany - A great save in a late restart and a breathtaking sprint to the finish line granted French rookie Thomas Ferrando (#22 Overdrive-Buffalo Chevrolet Camaro) his first career NASCAR win at the end of a memorable ELITE 2 Saturday Race at the Nurburgring. He reached the first step of the podium in just 7 races after collecting 4 top-5s and 5 top-10s

Photo - Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

The 16-year old Young Drivers Program member had a bad start from the pole and lost three positions at the first corner, but fought back quickly to take the lead from Salvador Tineo Arroyo (#4 Ford Autolix Competition Ford Mustang) at the chicane with a spectacular pass. He couldn’t relax though, because the battle between him, Tineo Arroyo and Maxime Dumarey (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) – all rookies – went on lap after lap and got even hotter – for the delight of thousands of German fans – when the safety car brought the field together with less than 12 minutes after Tours Speedway double-winner Denis Dupont (#32 RCP - Marc VDS Racing Toyota Camry) had to stop just out of the track with a mechanical problem.

On the following restart Ferrando received a little nudge under braking at the first corner but made a great sliding save and kept the lead to cross the finish line first, while behind him Tineo Arroyo had the better hand on Dumarey thanks to a beautiful penultimate lap pass.

“I had a tough restart, I struggled a little bit with the gearbox, but at least I was still leading after the first corner”, said Ferrando, who made a huge comeback at Tours Speedway. “It's very difficult to start in the back and move up through the field. Starting on the front makes everything a lot easier and our car is perfect”.

“It’s been a good, difficult race” added Tineo Arroyo. “I took the lead after the start, then Ferrando closed on me and went through. I've been able to follow him until the end and I can consider this a good result”.

Italian rookie Gianmarco Ercoli (#31 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) came home fourth and his teammate Luca Pirri (#25 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) closed the top-5. The top-10 was completed by Nathalie Maillet (#46 RCP - Marc VDS Toyota Camry) - first in the Gentleman Trophy and in the Ladies Cup -, Phillip Lietz, who led the first lap, Francesca Linossi (#66 DF-1 Racing by B66 Chevrolet SS), Stienes Longin (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) - who started from the rear of the field and completed a great comeback - and Simone Laureti (#51 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS).

Just outside of the top-10, Didier Bec won the Legend trophy with his 11th place.

With this victory Ferrando closes the gap between him and Maxime Dumarey to just 4 points. The ELITE 2 Sunday race will start at 14:00 CET (8:00 AM ET).

photo - Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard