WEST KINGSDOWN, England – Coming from 26th on the grid, Lasse Sorensen raced through the field to win Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen Euro Series ELITE 2 race at Brands Hatch.
The Dexwet-df1 Racing driver overtook a slowing Florian Venturi on the last lap to capture the checkered flag.
Drama already struck early in the first ELITE 2 Division race of the NASCAR GP UK. It was Andre Castro who lead the pack to the green, but the American was put under pressure by championship leader Giorgio Maggi. The two got together at the Graham Hill bend and the No. 24 PK Carsport Chevrolet of Castro went into a spin and Florian Venturi took advantage of it to pick up the lead.
The Safety Car was deployed after Matthias Hauer got stuck in the gravel at Clearways and on the ensuing restart Venturi managed to build a gap on the competition and was on his way to his second win of the season. Sorensen, however, was already on his way to the top and charging in fourth place behind Scott Jeffs and Vittorio Ghirelli.
In the final laps Jeffs attacked Ghirelli for second at Paddock Hill Bend. They touched and Ghirelli went sliding through the gravel. Sorensen took the opportunity and climbed up to second. A few moments later Venturi suddenly slowed while beginning the last lap of the race.
Sorensen immediately passed Venturi for the lead and grabbed his second win in his fifth NASCAR Whelen Euro Series race. Jeffs finished second, but a 30-second post-race penalty moved him down the order to 17th.
“It was just amazing,” said Sorensen. “I would have never thought about it when I was climbing into the car. I would have been happy with a top-10. I was lucky because there were some spins and crashes ahead of me. When you come from 26th you also need a little bit of luck. I want to thank my team Dexwet-df1 Racing and my awesome sponsor flexlease.nu. I’m so happy for everyone. It’s going pretty well right now here in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.”
Advait Deodhar, driving the No. 31 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS, came from eighth to second, earning his first NASCAR Whelen Euro Series podium finish. Venturi managed to collect a third-place finish.
“This is technically my second home race as I live in London,” said Deodhar. “CAAL Racing was the third team for me in this season. They are amazing, I’m so happy, I don’t know what to say. It was a crazy race right from the beginning. I am sure the spectators enjoyed it as well. It was a funny race for a driver and it was going crazy until the very last lap.”
Michael Bleekemolen ended up seventh after a strong run in his No. 69 Ford Mustang. It was the first Legend Trophy win for the former Formula One driver. Arianna Casoli won the Lady Trophy.