Neil Tressler returned to the EURO-RACECAR NASCAR Touring Series this weekend (7/8 July), to attend the first ever official NASCAR sanctioned EURO-RACECAR NASCAR Touring Series Oval Races at Tours Speedway (France) on a temporary built 600m flat oval race track (built on a car park.) The weekend also saw the return of Ben Kennedy #96 the grandson of Bill France (founder of NASCAR.)
The weekend got underway with two free practice sessions on Friday, where Tressler soon found that the track surface was very bumpy causing the car to lose traction around the corners.
Two flying laps were given for qualifying Saturday Morning, with Tressler qualifying in 13th position for the 50-lap races that was to follow.
Warwickshire based Tressler, got away well in race one, however an issue with the in car radio detaching from the harness meant that he was forced to take a trip to the pit lane, resulting in being a lap down.
Tressler soon returned to the on track action overtaking multiple cars and battling with current Chevrolet WTCC Champion Yvan Muller #100, eventually taking the chequered flag in ninth position.
The second 50-lap race commenced late on Saturday afternoon with rain beginning to fall before the race start leaving very greasy track conditions. After four tyre changes, Tressler eventually went out on wet tyres.
Starting from the inside row seven of the grid, and after a caution several laps in with Oscar Pereira #6 spinning, the grid bunched back up, with Tressler continuing to battle with the pack, working his way up to a third place finish, a great achievement for the Pickup Truck Racing Series front-runner in the #29 car.
Race three commenced with Tressler on the second row of the grid. Several laps in a caution was called due to Joseph Cozzella #14 hitting the wall at turn one.
As the caution came out, the pack of NASCAR racer’s slowed up with Tressler on the inside of the track, but as Alain Grand #11 car came down the track he collided with the front right of Tressler’s #29 car, causing considerable damage and ending any hope of Tressler completing the meeting.
Tressler will now focus on the remaining Pickup Truck Racing Championship rounds competing at Thruxton on 28/29 July.
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