After a dominant Vallelunga sweep, Nelson Piquet Jr. heads to Zolder second in the NASCAR Euro Series V8GP championship
The championship picture has changed dramatically.
Nelson Piquet Jr. arrived at Vallelunga needing a major result to bring himself into the NASCAR Euro Series V8GP title conversation. Two races later, the Alumitec Racing driver left Italy with two victories, maximum momentum and second place in the championship only 31 points from the lead.
With the NASCAR Euro Series Finals at Circuit Zolder approaching on October 17–18, the Brazilian will arrive in Belgium with everything still to play for.
At Vallelunga, Piquet Jr. delivered when the stakes were at their highest. He captured his first NASCAR Euro Series V8GP victory on Saturday before repeating the achievement on Sunday, completing a remarkable sweep of the Italian playoff weekend.
From challenger to championship contender
Sunday’s performance confirmed just how dramatically the situation had changed.
Starting from pole position, Piquet Jr. controlled the race while the battle developed behind him. When the checkered flag fell, he had completed back-to-back victories in only two days.
The results moved the driver of the #48 Alumitec Racing Ford Mustang into second place in the V8GP standings with 350 points. Reigning champion Vittorio Ghirelli remains the championship leader with 381 points, leaving a 31-point gap heading into the final two races at Zolder.
That represents a remarkable turnaround.
Before Vallelunga, Piquet Jr. had never won a V8GP race. By Sunday evening, he had won two.
His victories also add another chapter to one of the most diverse careers in modern motorsport. Piquet Jr. has competed in Formula One, became the inaugural Formula E World Champion and has won races in multiple NASCAR categories in the United States. Now, NASCAR Euro Series victories have been added to that résumé.
A team effort
After Sunday’s victory, Piquet Jr. immediately recognized the work behind the result.
“First of all, thanks to the whole team,” he said in Victory Lane, crediting Alumitec Racing’s work throughout the weekend and the progress that moved the #48 up the championship standings.
That progress will now be put to its biggest test of the season.
Zolder will present a very different challenge from Vallelunga. The Belgian circuit’s demanding braking zones, chicanes and acceleration phases leave little margin for error. With the championship reaching its final two races, every position and every point will carry additional significance.
For Alumitec Racing, the next weeks are about preparation.
The #48 will be inspected and prepared. Engineers will analyze the data gathered throughout the season. Every detail that can produce consistency and performance will be examined before the team arrives in Belgium.
What happened at Vallelunga cannot guarantee what happens at Zolder.
But it changed what is possible.
Nelson Piquet Jr. entered Italy searching for his first V8GP victory. He left with two wins and second place in the championship.
Now only one weekend remains.
31 points.
Two races.
One final opportunity
