Raphaël Lessard delivered one of the most spectacular finishes of the 2026 NASCAR Euro Series season by winning Saturday’s OPEN Championship race at Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic.
Driving the No. 11 Alumitec Racing Ford Mustang, Lessard remained patient behind championship leader Thomas Toffel for most of the race. Rather than forcing an unnecessary move, the Canadian carefully managed his car and waited for the right opportunity.
That opportunity arrived following a late caution, which created a one-lap shootout for the victory.
On the final restart, Lessard positioned himself alongside Toffel before completing a decisive pass through Autodrom Most’s challenging chicane. The two championship contenders fought all the way to the chequered flag, with Lessard securing the victory by only 0.247 seconds.
It was a remarkable demonstration of confidence, precision and racecraft under pressure.
The result marked Lessard’s second OPEN Championship victory of the 2026 season and delivered another important success for Alumitec Racing.
“This victory belongs to the entire team,” said Alain Lord Mounir, owner of Alumitec Racing. “Raphaël never stopped believing that he could win. He remained calm, waited for his opportunity and executed the decisive move perfectly. That is the mentality we want throughout our organization.”
The victory also highlighted the exceptional work completed by the Alumitec Racing crew. From the preparation of the car to the final strategic decisions, every detail contributed to the result.
In front of thousands of enthusiastic Czech fans, Lessard proved once again that a race is never over until the chequered flag falls.
