GT experts Bouchut, Lauda and Palttala to race in Whelen Euro Series

A new Austrian team makes its debut in NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. This season DF1 Racing by B66 Raceconsulting will field two Chevrolets for the Frenchman Christophe Bouchut and the Austrian Mathias Lauda. These two professional drivers further strengthen the 2014 grid of a series that promises to be stronger than ever!

Testifying the ever growing interest surrounding the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series all over Europe, DF1 Racing by B66 Raceconsulting will be, after Renauer Motorsports, the second german speaking team choosing to orient its racing program towards the official NASCAR series in Europe. Managed by David Prewitt, this Vienna-based Austrian team recently took part in the European Le Mans Series and the FIA GT Series. This year, though, they choose the spectacular NASCAR races, whose success with the fans continues to grow.

To succeed in this new challenge, DF1 Racing by B66 Raceconsulting secured the services of two expert and renowned drivers. Christophe Bouchut, 47, is an eclectic driver who won in every series he took part in (single-seaters, prototypes, GTs and Touring Cars) and won the 1993 24 Hours of Le Mans. During his career he also became the undisputed GT racing specialist, thanks to 111 wins, 90 poles and 16 titles. In 2014 he will take part in the Elite Division at the wheel of the #77 Chevrolet SS and has already an option for 2015.

Christophe Bouchut

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

“The grid of the 2014 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series promises to be exceptional and the arrival of DF1 Racing by B66 Raceconsulting is welcomed with great interest. Mathias Lauda and Christophe Bouchut are two great names in motorsports and first of all two very talented drivers. I can’t wait to see them giving their best at the wheel of our NASCAR cars,” concluded Jérôme Galpin, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series CEO.

Markus Palttala joins Racing Club Partners

The Finnish driver will race in the Elite Division at the wheel of the #46 Toyota Camry in three of the six races and will have Nathalie Maillet as his teammate. Palttala will also race in VLN, which means that he will be present only in Brands Hatch in June, Nurburgring in July and in the Le Mans Finals in mid-October. For the other three events, Nathalie Maillet will have another teammate. “Having a strong driver at my side will help me consolidate my driving style, but also reach a better setup. I’m training physically to be at my best for the new season in Open Division and I’m aiming to the podium,” said Nathalie Maillet.

After signing Bas Leinders – who will drive the #32 – at the beginning of February, Racing Club Partners welcomes the arrival of a new element that will allow the team to compete at the front both in Elite and Open, the two divisions of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. In 2014 Racing Club Partners will field a third car that will carry the number 20; for this car, the team is looking for two drivers, one for each Division, for the season’s six meetings.

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and Racing Club Partners – Marc VDS