The opening round of the 2026 NASCAR Euro Series season allowed Alumitec Racing and its Quebec-born Canadian driver Raphaël Lessard to showcase extremely promising potential from the moment the team arrived at the legendary Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
Despite a weekend filled with several challenges and unexpected moments, the team impressed with its preparation and ability to adapt against some of the strongest organizations in the NASCAR Euro Series paddock. From the very first sessions on track, Raphaël Lessard displayed an extremely competitive pace, quickly proving that he has all the tools necessary to battle at the front of the field.
The Canadian driver particularly stood out during the longer race runs, where his controlled aggression and smart race management allowed him to complete several important overtakes against some of the championship’s most experienced veterans. Although an electrical issue and a controversial penalty ultimately compromised the final result on Sunday, the overall weekend remains extremely positive for the organization.
“The first NASCAR Euro race weekend went really well with my new team, Alumitec Racing. We quickly learned how to work together and everyone did a very efficient job,” said Raphaël Lessard.
The former NASCAR Truck Series winner at the legendary Talladega Superspeedway also highlighted the positive atmosphere inside the team and the rapid progression made throughout the Spanish weekend.
“The atmosphere inside the team is excellent and we continue moving in the right direction. We showed a lot of speed throughout the weekend and that gives us confidence for what’s ahead,” added Lessard.
The performances shown in Valencia now allow Alumitec Racing to approach the next round with a great deal of optimism. The team will now head to Circuit Paul Ricard, a track where the organization has already completed several very encouraging private tests over the past few weeks.
According to Lessard, the testing completed in France already demonstrates that the team has a car capable of fighting among the top contenders in the championship.
“The next race will be at Circuit Paul Ricard, where we already had a very good test with my teammate Nelson Piquet Jr.’s car. I’m really looking forward to getting back on track with the team, and I’m optimistic for the May 23–24 race weekend,” concluded the Canadian driver.
With strong results already demonstrated during the opening weekend of the season, growing chemistry within the organization, and confidence continuing to build, Alumitec Racing now appears well positioned to play an important role at the front of the NASCAR Euro Series field throughout the 2026 season.
