Zimmer and Van Vaerenbergh win season openers

Valencia, Spain - Two amazing races animated the first day of the Valencia NASCAR Fest! Yann Zimmer won the ELITE 1 division with an astonishing late pass, while 17-year-old rookie Neal Van Vaerenbergh debuted in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series winning the ELITE 2 race.

ELITE 1 Saturday Race: Yann Zimmer wins the first race of the season in great style

After winning the Jerome Sarran Trophy last year, Yann Zimmer (#3 TFT - Moser Vernet Ford Mustang) began his 2014 campaign with an outstanding win in the ELITE 1 Saturday Race at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia. The Swiss made a brilliant move in the final minutes of the race, overtaking both Bert Longin (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) and Anthony Kumpen (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) in turn 2 and defending the lead from their comeback to inaugurate the first edition of the Valencia NASCAR Fest in perfect NASCAR style with his second career win.

“This morning I told myself I had the car to win. It was very risky, but I took advantage of the battle ahead and I passed on the inside. Thanks to NASCAR, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and all my partners: this championship is the best bridge to go racing in the United States,” said Zimmer, who also won the race among the under-25 drivers ahead of Cheever and Gilardoni and is carrying the legendary number 3 in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.

The PK Carsport duo dominated the first part of the race, but had to surrender to the Swiss comeback from the ninth place on the grid. Eddie Cheever III (#51 Caal Racing Chevrolet SS) and Fabrizio Armetta (#31 Caal Racing Chevrolet SS), first in the Challenger Trophy closed the top-5 at the end of a very tight race that saw a lot position changes, for the joy of the numerous Spanish fans that crowded the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia.

Kevin Gilardoni (#99 Max Papis Racing Chevrolet Camaro) was sixth, ahead of Mathias Lauda (#66 DF-1 Racing by B66 Chevrolet SS), who got the better hand in great duel with Freddy Nordstrom (#44 Still Racing Chevrolet Camaro) and Romain Iannetta (#23 RDV Compétition - Mc Donald's Chevrolet SS). Christophe Bouchut (#77 DF-1 Racing by B66 Chevrolet SS) completed the top-10.

Defending champion Ander Vilarino (#2 TFT Banco Santander Chevrolet SS) was forced to stop in pit-road due to a contact in the first part of the race, but he came back on track and posted the fastest lap of the race, which will allow him to start from pole for tomorrow’s Sunday Race. Zimmer will start alongside him on the front row.

ELITE 2 Saturday Race: Rookie Van Vaerenbergh scores first career win

Neal Van Vaerenbergh (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS), 17 years old from Belgium, scored his first NASCAR win on his debut in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in the ELITE 2 Saturday Race at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.

The Belgian rookie, coming from single seater, started from the pole but was overtook at the first corner by Nicolò Rocca (#25 Caal Racing Chevrolet SS), racing both divisions here in Valencia. He then retook the lead at around one third of the race when the Italian went wide in turn one. Van Vaerenbergh then went on to take the checkered flag winning the season opener.

Rocca crossed the finish line in second and the third place went to another Italian debutant: Marsilio Canuti (#7 TFT - Leclerc Chevrolet SS). The TFT driver won a race-long battle with Thomas Ferrando (#22 OverDrive Chevrolet Camaro) – second in the Rookie Cup – after recovering from a spin and also won the Gentleman classification. The Brazilian Pablo Gallego (#19 Ford Autolix Corp. Ford Mustang) closed the top-5 ahead of Maxime Dumarey (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS), Philipp Lietz (#86 Renauer Motorsport Ford Mustang), Alessandro Tonoli (#6 Events4You-Nocentini) and Simone Laureti (#51 Caal Racing Chevrolet SS). Denis Dupont (#32 Racing Club Partners - Marc VDS Racing Toyota Camry) completed the top-10.

Twelfth under the checkered flag, Nathalie Maillet (#46 RCP - Marc VDS Toyota Camry) was first in the Ladies Cup while Leonard Vernet (#3 TFT-Moser Vernet Chevrolet Ford Mustang) won the Legend classification finish 16th.

Van Vaerenbergh will start from the pole tomorrow, ahead of Rocca and Canuti.

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