The EURO-RACECAR NASCAR Touring Series will stage Europe’s maiden NASCAR-style oval event at the Tours Speedway over the weekend of July 7/8.

 Preparations for the race are well underway with technical training taking place in the US and collective testing being conducted on an oval with the support of NASCAR. For the entire EURO-RACECAR community, from organisers to drivers, there is just one target: to make history.

 As it takes place on an oval, the fourth round of the 2012 championship will run to NASCAR rules and, in view of this, series officials travelled to North Carolina (May 30-June 3) to undertake training with their American colleagues. The delegation comprised Jérôme Galpin (head of series organiser and promoter Team FJ), Jean Galpin (Technical Director), Yves Guillou (EURO-RACECAR director), Patrice Menochet (Race Director) and Jean-Marie Krempf (Sporting Marshal)

The team began with theory training at NASCAR’s R&D Centre in Concord, North Carolina, where they were briefed on the series’ regulations and procedures. This was followed by practical work on the historic Bowman Gray oval during a NASCAR East K&N Pro Series race.

The objective of the trip was to allow the two teams to meet and work together, as during the Tours Speedway event race control will count on the support of NASCAR Touring Series director Richard Buck, former Sprint Cup driver Chad Little – who now acts as director of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and Mexico’s NASCAR Toyota Series – as well as two US-based timing representatives. Their combined expertise, put into use across the Atlantic, will be invaluable to EURO-RACECAR’s maiden oval event.

 On June 11, the day following EURO-RACECAR’s Spa 200, the team enjoyed a change of scenery as competitors met in French city Nœux-les Mines, which boasts a 400m/0.25-mile oval circuit. While very different from the Tours venue, it would prove the perfect place for competitors to cut their teeth in this form of racing.

 As well as the debut of NASCAR-style competition in Europe, the test also represented the first time in NASCAR history that cars have run on an oval in the wet. Buck, who had travelled from Concord to attend the session, was on hand to offer his support and advice.

 “I am delighted with how this historic day went,” he commented afterwards. “There was a bit of apprehension and a lot of unknowns – especially as they started out on a wet track! That was a first for me and for NASCAR, but it all went well and eventually we were able to run double-file start and restart simulations. Everyone has done an excellent job.

After a cautious beginning, the drivers quickly caught the oval bug and soon began work on car set-up. What’s more, all were enthusiastic about their maiden speedway experiences, with Romain Thiévin describing his time on-track as “more interesting and fun than I had expected.” Meanwhile American-based Franck Violas commented: “Although I live in the US, I didn’t know half of what I’ve learnt here,” adding that “the races are going to be fantastic!”

 The test also saw reigning champion Eric Hélary return to the cockpit as he prepares to contest the Tours Speedway event to validate his entry for a NASCAR race, his reward for winning last year’s title. “That was great,” commented Hélary after getting his run. “When you are two or three tenths off the best lap times you have to go for it and push to the maximum – that’s when you realise that this is a proper job that requires real driver skill!”

 About TOURS SPEEDWAY

 TOURS SPEEDWAY will host the NASCAR Touring Series’ maiden European oval race. The 600m (1/3 mile) long, 25m (65ft) wide, 0° banking outdoor oval takes its inspiration from U.S speedways. It's located in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France. The circuit is ringed by the same FIA specification safety barriers as those used at Formula 1 street circuits such as Valencia. More than 40 lorry-loads of equipment are needed to build the track and its 5,000-seater grandstand. More than 100 dedicated staff, outside of the festival’s organisation, are required to run the race.

Located in the heart of downtown Tours within close proximity of the fans, the event is organised during the Country Bike Rock Festival that sees more than 35,000 visitors gather each year for a great American feast at the Parc des Expositions de Tours. Tours Speedway is an official event of the 2012 EURO-RACECAR NASCAR Touring Series season (round 4). Benefitting from NASCAR officials’ expertise and consultation, the race will be run to all NASCAR Touring Series rules.

 The racing spectacle will be unique with a genuine NASCAR format for the ELITE class and knockout stages for the OPEN division:

- 5 races on Saturday July 7th from 10am-9pm: 1x 100-lap ELITE race and 4x OPEN races: 2x 50-lap Semi-Finals, 1x 50-lap Small Final and 1x 50-lap Final.

- 5 races on Sunday July 8th from 10am-5.30pm following the same format.

- 24 cars shared by 48 drivers will do-battle at this European premiere.

more info at racecarseries.com