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Old 31 Jul 2006, 14:41 (Ref:1668963)   #1
FIRE
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New European "NASCAR" series: „American Stock Cars Europe“

Former F1 and sportscar driver Jochen Mass is planning to start a new oval series in Europe:
Quote:
In der Pre Race Show beim Eastside 100 auf dem Eurospeedway Lausitz bewegte Jochen Mass wie angekündigt einen nagelneuen Dodge Charger, wie er auch im NASCAR Nextel Cup zum Einsatz kommt. Das Stock Car auf Basis eines Road Course Chassis mit Superspeedway Reifen war in Dodge Werks Farben lackiert.

Ebenfalls will Jochen Mass mit diesen Fahrzeugen eine Serie namens „American Stock Cars Europe“ gründen, welche nächstes Jahr schon durchstarten soll unter der Flagge der FIA. Der Kostenpunkt für die rennbereiten Boliden soll bei 140.000 Euro liegen, während bereits 23 Fahrzeuge in den USA wohl bereit stehen.
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Die Interessenten kommen allerdings hauptsächlich aus Skandinavien, England und den Niederlanden. Zur Zeit sieht es aus, als sollten Rennen am Eurospeedway Lausitz, Rockingham, Hockenheim und Silverstone sowie neu gebauten Ovalen in Spanien und der Niederlande statt finden. Bei dem Oval in den Niederlanden handelt es sich nach ersten Angaben um kein geringeres als Venray, welches bald umgebaut wird zu einer größeren Strecke. Als Unterbau soll die SCSA sowie die BRL gelten. Als TV Partner soll Eurosport die Rennen live übertragen, inklusive weiterer Zusammenfassungen in Deutschland ersten Informationen zufolge.
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Source: www.stockcar-news.de

Short translation:
Quote:
In the pre race show of the Eastside 100 [= German F3 Cup] at the Eurospeedway Lausitz Jochen Mass drove a brand-new Dodge Charger, which is also used in the NASCAR Nextel Cup. This car is based on a road course chassis with superspeedway tires and painted in Dodge factory colors. With these cars Mass wants to create a series named "American Stock Cars Europe", it's planned to start next year under the flag of FIA. A race ready car will cost around 140,000 Euro and 23 cars are already waiting in the USA.
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There's mainly interest from customers in Scandinavia, UK and Holland. At the moment it looks if there will be races at Eurospeedway Lausitz, Rockingham, Hockenheim and Silverstone as well on new ovals in Spain and Holland. The current oval at Venray in Holland will shortly replaced by a new and bigger one. As support series SCSA and BRL are considered. TV partner Eurosport will do live TV coverage.
So far oval racing wasn't a succes in Europe so I am curious if this series will get of the ground. If i.e. Dodge and Toyota (Lexus) will support this series it can work. The cars are already available in the US (no development costs). They only have to spend money on promotion and maybe support of teams (technical and/or financial). There were rumours Lexus would enter DTM or WTCC but according some German websites they will not. Why not European "NASCAR"? This year the Dodge brand was relaunched in Europe so they can use some promotion. Dodge is also rumoured to enter WTCC next year, but why not "NASCAR"?

I think by European drivers there would be a lott of interest in a professional oval series. I am sure Dutch drivers like Patrick Huisman, Duncan Huisman (both have expressed their interested in NASCAR) and Michel Vergers (has already a lott US & UK oval experience) would be very interested.

In the German article they speak about live coverage by Eurosport, but I have my doubts about that because Eurosport is already organiser of the WTCC.
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