With Nelson Piquet Jr., Gianmarco Ercoli and Raphaël Lessard leading its charge, Alumitec Racing heads to Belgium determined to turn preparation into championship success.
The straights offer opportunity. The braking zones demand courage. And when the championship is on the line, every corner carries consequences.
Circuit Zolder will host the NASCAR Euro Series season finale on October 17–18, with four double-points races deciding the V8GP and OPEN championships. For Alumitec Racing, the Belgian weekend represents the culmination of a season built around one ambition: competing for titles.
At approximately four kilometres, Zolder delivers an intense lap through a compact, demanding layout. Its combination of braking zones, chicanes and acceleration makes it a fitting setting for a championship decider. Speed matters, but so does the ability to reproduce it under pressure.
For Alain Lord Mounir, Team Principal / CEO of Alumitec Racing, that challenge begins long before the cars reach the grid.
“Zolder will test everything we have built this season: our preparation, our discipline and our ability to perform under pressure. Every detail has to serve the same objective giving our drivers the best possible opportunity to win.”
The technical demands leave little room for compromise. A driver needs confidence under braking, a car that responds through the changes of direction and enough traction to attack the next straight. Across a race, preserving that balance can be as important as producing a single exceptional qualifying lap.
For the mechanics and engineers, the task is equally demanding. A championship weekend rewards a complete package: pace, reliability and decisions made clearly when the pressure rises.
“We have invested heavily in our people, equipment and technical preparation because we want to raise the standard of this team,” Mounir added. “The ambition is to arrive at Zolder with an organization capable of delivering when it matters most.”
Alumitec brings considerable momentum to Belgium.
Nelson Piquet Jr. won both V8GP races at Vallelunga, moving into second place in the championship, 31 points behind Vittorio Ghirelli. That result transformed the Brazilian’s title challenge and established him as a major threat heading into the finale.
Repeating that performance at Zolder will require another complete weekend. With double points available, the opportunity is substantial but so is the cost of an incident or a missed finish.
In OPEN, Raphaël Lessard arrives with an equally compelling opportunity. Following his own Vallelunga sweep, the Canadian sits just 12 points behind Thomas Toffel. According to the series’ championship preview, two more victories at Zolder would secure Lessard the title regardless of his rival’s results.
Gianmarco Ercoli adds championship-winning experience to Alumitec’s lineup. The 2023 champion remains a central figure in the team’s V8GP effort, while his experience also provides a valuable reference for Lessard in their shared racing operation.
Three drivers. Different backgrounds. One team facing the most consequential weekend of its season.
“Nelson, Gianmarco and Raphaël each bring something valuable to this organization,” Mounir said. “Our responsibility is to give them the preparation and support they deserve. Once the racing starts, we need to stay focused, make good decisions and fight for every position.”
Beyond the championship battles, Zolder offers the atmosphere that has made its American Festival a distinctive stop on the European racing calendar. The weekend combines NASCAR competition with American vehicle displays, fan activities and a support programme featuring Belcar and Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux.
For Alumitec Racing, however, attention remains fixed on the circuit.
The success at Vallelunga created an opening. Zolder will determine what the team makes of it.
“We can be proud of the work that has brought us here, but the job is still ahead of us,” Mounir said. “At Zolder, we have to turn that work into performance from the first practice session to the final chequered flag.”
When the engines fire in Belgium, preparation will meet its final test.
And Alumitec Racing intends to be ready.
