Anthony Kumpen, Maxime Dumarey and PK Carsport champions of the Nascar Whelen Euro Series!

Anthony Kumpen seized the Nascar Whelen Euro Series title in Elite 1 thanks to a victory and a second place in the final weekend of the Nascar Whelen Euro Series in Le Mans. Bert Longin and Maxime Dumarey turned the event into a perfect season ending for PK Carsport by also bringing home the team championship title as well as the crown of the Elite 2 championship.
“Obviously I am extremely delighted by this title", indicates Kumpen in a first reaction. “It’s a big deal to clinch an official Nascar title as the first Belgian and only the second European ever. Let’s not overlook the fact that this was the first season in this championship for PK Carsport. We’ve been competitive all season long, so this title is an appropriate reward."
Kumpen also gets a nice bonus. As the new champion, he will be invited to drive in one or more races of the American Nascar championship. “It’s not been decided yet in which one I will participate exactly. That will probably be agreed mid-December when I travel to Charlotte (US) for the big Nascar award ceremony," Kumpen states.
The challenge to clinch this European title becomes clear when looking at the gap in the final standings: there is just one mere point between Kumpen and reigning champion Vilarino. “Following my victory in the first race on Saturday I was one point behind Vilarino", Kumpen indicates. “But since the Spaniard departed from pole position on Sunday and was still in the lead after the first lap, he got two extra points. This meant I had to finish two positions before him in order to take the title. In the fifth lap, I managed to overtake Vilarino, with Frederic Gabillon following in my trail. That sequence was kept all the way up to the end, thus securing the title."
Bert Longin also played his role in this by keeping the pressure on Vilarino, forcing him to focus on defending his fourth place. Longin was well placed to at least level his result from the first race (fifth position) when he got hit in the very last turn, dropping him to seventh place.
“Not really important," smiled Longin. “This weekend was all about helping Anthony in his hunt for the title. That’s where all my efforts were focused on. As for me, I’m quite satisfied with my season, although I experienced a fair share of bad luck. I don’t think I could have posed a threat to Anthony, but without the engine failure and being pushed off track twice, I could have easily scored 40 or 50 points more, moving me up to the third place in the championship. Anyway, this first season was a fantastic experience! I’m certainly looking forward to racing in Venray (NL) and in Zolder next year."
The excellent results of Maxime Dumarey created an extension to the party at PK Carsport, who seized the title in the Elite 2 division. A new podium finish really put him ahead of his nearest competitors in the championship. On top of that, the last race in this Elite 2 season saw the victory for another PK Carsport car: Gabriele Gardel took the #11 Chevrolet across the finish line in first position, thus securing the team championship title for PK Carsport, the icing on the cake of a more than successful first season in the Nascar Whelen Euro Series.