EURO-RACECAR honored in Charlotte's NASCAR Hall of Fame © EURO-RACECAR / Stéphane Enout
The memory of a lifetime
for 2012 EURO-RACECAR Champions
CHARLOTTE, USA - Ander Vilarino was presented with the champion’s ring by NASCAR President Mike Helton at the Night of Champions Touring Awards in Charlotte (USA) to bring the curtain down on a busy week for the best representatives of the EURO-RACECAR NASCAR Touring Series. Over four days the drivers, teams and partners who made the trip sampled a taste of the American dream, leaving them all hungry to perform even better and return in 2013.
"Being recognised either as a driver, team or organisation is an indescribable feeling that I’ve never experienced before," reflected Vilarino following Saturday’s ceremony, highlighting the thrill of receiving the award in NASCAR’s spiritual home. A few minutes earlier, the 2012 Elite Division champion had given a moving speech, tinged with humour and full of recognition for those who helped him to recover before traveling to the Crown Ballroom NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Earlier in proceedings Tony Pereira, Vilarino’s crew chief on the #2 TFT-Banco Santander Chevrolet Camaro, had taken the stage. So too did Open Division champion Simon Escallier, Elite runner-up Romain Thievin and Freddy Nordström who was voted Most Popular Driver by the series’ fans. Also in attendance were Anthony Garabrino, David Perisset and Alain Veyssière, boss of the Scorpus Racing team with whom Escallier sealed his crown. What’s more, because the series would not be what it is without the help of its faithful partners, Race And Win creator Eric Fabre – who had distributed prestige watches to the champions – was also honoured alongside the US series’ many partners.
"Since our first contact four years ago relations with NASCAR have been excellent," commented EURO-RACECAR general manager Jérôme Galpin. "That’s been shown throughout this week dedicated to the champions ofthe seven NASCAR Touring Series. Our drivers, teams and partners have enjoyed an amazing few days and were made fully aware of the importance this discipline holds in the United States and around the world. The ceremony will certainly remain a treasured memory and we can now say we have added a new member to our family. Our drivers have been rewarded in the way they deserve."
The NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Awards were the conclusion of a busy week for the attending competitors andtheir families. Vilarino’s duties began on Tuesday (December 4) with a photo-shoot in the company of NASCAR’s North American champions at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The next day he finished third in a karting race with media representatives and was then joined by fellow EURO-RACECAR NASCAR Touring Series members for a reception and private tour of top NASCAR Sprint Cup outfits Stewart Haas Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing. Those in attendance were able to experience the inner workings of the teams, from research and development to assembly at the workshop. Vilarino’s next engagement in the United States will be to challenge America’s top drivers during the UNOH Battle at the Beach in Daytona during the Speedweek!
Private visit for EURO-RACECAR at Richard Childress Racing workshop © EURO-RACECAR / Stéphane Enout