Stunning finish at Brands Hatch with another podium for Thomas Krasonis
Thomas Krasonis saved the best for last in the third race weekend of the NASCAR Euro Series, climbing to the second step of the podium in Sunday’s OPEN class race!
At the Brands Hatch circuit, the first Greek professional racing driver encountered many difficulties and was extremely unlucky, especially in Saturday’s races, falling off the podium for the first time on a race day this season. But the finish of the three-day event was ideal, with Krasonis finishing second in Sunday’s OPEN race, with the early conclusion of the race due to on-track accidents denying him the opportunity to claim his third OPEN win of the season.
In Saturday’s PRO race, luck turned against the 23-year-old driver as on the final lap, and while in the top five, a piece of debris left on the track from contact with other race cars resulted in him being clipped and losing several positions, finishing 15th. The misadventure, however, continued in the OPEN race, which started in torrential rain and was red-flagged. After the restart, and while Krasonis was high in the standings, a mechanical problem with the car forced him to retire, three laps before the checkered flag dropped.
Sunday’s PRO race was just as eventful, as there was a stoppage due to two cars exiting and coming into contact with the barriers. After the restart, Krasonis found himself in tenth place. With patience and precise moves, he recovered five places and eventually crossed the finish line in 5th place.
An impressive race and a lap record!
In the OPEN race, which brought the curtain down on the three-day event, Krasonis did some amazing things. Despite starting from 10th on the grid, he had gained five positions in the first five laps of the race. Overtakes on De Groot, Elllis and O’Brien followed, with Krasonis moving up to second and catching up with leader Martin Doubek very quickly. The two engaged in an epic battle for 15 laps, but with two laps to go, and with Krasonis about to make another move to overtake Doubek, an on-track collision of other cars filled the road with oil, with organisers immediately red-flagging the race to prematurely end the race. Thus, Krasonis finished the three days of racing at Brands Hatch with another podium!
At the same time, Thomas Krasonis also set a lap record at Brands Hatch for a NASCAR Euro Series race with 48”.771!
After the first six races of the season, Thomas Krasonis is 5th in the OPEN class standings with 183 points, while in PRO he is 4th with 194 points, and first in the juniors standings with Paul Jouffreau.
Thomas Krasonis is again competing in both the PRO and OPEN divisions of the NASCAR Euro Series this year, driving in all races the number “13” Chevrolet Camaro of the Championship’s top team, the Belgian PK Carsport.
Supporters of Thomas Krasoni’s effort in the NASCAR Euro Series are Costamare Shipping Company and the “Dodoni” Dairy Industry, while medical coverage is provided by the Athens Medical Group.
