Krasonis: “We gave it our all, but then… Piquet!”

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Thomas Krasonis said it and he made it happen. The 2025 OPEN Champion travelled to Italy aiming to close the gap on the top of the standings, and he succeeded. And things would have been even better for him had it not been for… Nelson Piquet Jr.!

“What Piquet did this weekend was truly impressive. He gave it his all and, with both victories, has thrown his hat into the ring for the Championship. But we haven’t had our final say yet!” said Krasonis

He continued: “I like to be honest. On Saturday we didn’t have the pace to take the win. But on Sunday, once again, luck wasn’t on our side. The collision I had with Jouffreau cost me dearly, as I went from being on course for victory to having to chase down other drivers just to make it onto the podium. The two podium finishes at Vallelunga were important, but we still have a long way to go.”

He concluded: “We’re not giving up. We’re continuing to work hard ahead of the final round at Zolder. A year ago at this very circuit, we celebrated winning the OPEN title. We know we need to raise our game and that two wins in Belgium are essential, but we’ve done it before. With double points, anything can happen. The gap to the top has narrowed, and that puts even more pressure on those ahead of us! I’d particularly like to thank my sponsor, Costamare Shipping Company, which has stood by me for yet another year, supporting our efforts, Alon Day and Paul Tymbas for their invaluable contribution, and my family.”

Valuable points ahead of the final for Thomas Krasonis

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Thomas Krasonis secured valuable points ahead of the season’s grand final, to be held at the Zolder circuit, during the fifth race weekend of the 2026 NASCAR Euro Series, which took place at the Vallelunga circuit in Italy and constituted the ‘semi-final’ of the Championship.

The three-day event got off to a flying start for the 2025 OPEN Champion, as he demonstrated during Friday’s free practice sessions that he had the pace to challenge for pole position. Saturday got off to an even better start for the Greek driver, as he progressed to the Superpole session in qualifying, where he set the second-fastest time out of the 10 participants and secured a place on the front row of the grid for the race to follow.

Saturday’s race saw the Greek Champion battling it out with Nelson Piquet Jr and Gianmarco Ercoli for victory. In the end, Krasonis finished third, behind the veteran Formula 1 driver who took the win, and the Italian who came second.

In Sunday’s race, Krasonis started once again from the front row of the grid and looked set to secure the victory that would have earned him the maximum number of points. However, following a collision with Paul Jouffreau, he dropped back to fifth place. Krasonis did not give up and, with some impressive driving, fought his way up to second place, behind Piquet, who made it ‘two out of two’.

Following the fifth race weekend, Thomas Krasonis moved up two places in the standings and is now fourth in the V8GP class with 339 points, whilst the leader, Vittorio Ghirelli, has 381.

The final race of the season takes place over the three days from 16 to 18 October at the Zolder circuit in Belgium.

This season, Thomas Krasonis is competing in the V8GP class – which until last year was known as PRO – driving the number ‘13’ Chevrolet Camaro for the Championship’s leading team, the Belgian side PK Carsport.

Costamare Shipping Company is sponsoring Thomas Krasonis’s campaign in the NASCAR Euro Series.

Krasonis: “A crucial race in the title battle”

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Following the fourth race weekend at Most in the Czech Republic, and with his worst result of the season so far having been discarded, Thomas Krasonis remains in 6th place in the V8GP standings with 201 points, whilst the leader, Vittorio Ghirelli, on 253. Consequently, the three-day event at Vallelunga takes on great significance for the Greek champion, as it presents a major opportunity to secure the points needed to close the gap at the top of the standings.

Thomas Krasonis says he is fully prepared to make a strong start to the Championship’s semi-final phase, aiming for maximum points in Italy. “The race in the Czech Republic left us with a bittersweet taste, due to the retirement on Sunday. But these things happen in racing and we’ve put it behind us. My mind is on what lies ahead, as the double-header at Vallelunga is crucial to the title battle,” emphasised Thomas Krasonis.

He added: “I know this particular circuit very well and I’d say it has some extremely interesting characteristics. Of course, the Italian drivers have raced at Vallelunga more often than I have, but I have plenty of experience, having been there many times. In fact, last week we had the chance to do some testing with the team to fine-tune the car’s set-up and see what might have changed on the track since last year.  We’ve prepared very well and we’ll give it our all as a team to leave Italy with the best possible result.”

He concluded by saying: “In motorsport, there are good times and bad times. The key, however, is not to lose faith and not to get discouraged, even when you have to retire from a race. I know very well that PK Carsport has the ability to provide me with a very good car, especially at this crucial stage of the Championship. I will do whatever it takes to get the result. I would like to thank the people who support my efforts, above all Costamare, who are always by my side, and of course my family and friends.”

It’s time for the semi-finals!

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The NASCAR Euro Series championship is entering the home straight, with the Vallelunga circuit hosting this year’s three-day semi-final event. And, of course, the 2025 OPEN class Champion, Thomas Krasonis, is raring to go for the big challenge of the Italian race.

The NASCAR GP Italy is the penultimate race of the season and, in essence, represents a huge opportunity for drivers to rack up valuable points. This is because, in both Saturday’s and Sunday’s races, the points earned by each driver are doubled.

The three-day event in Italy features a packed programme of racing and family-friendly activities. It is one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the NASCAR Euro Series calendar, as it showcases the best European racing series, from the V8s of the NASCAR Euro Series to the spectacular races of the FX PRO Series, Legend Cars Italia, the Twingo Cup and Formula Predator.

The Autodromo di Vallelunga Piero Taruffi opened its gates in 1951, initially as an oval circuit, and is classified as ‘FIA Grade 2’. The circuit is 4,085 metres long and comprises 15 corners.

Following his title win in the OPEN class last season, Thomas Krasonis is competing this season in the V8GP class, driving the number ‘13’ Chevrolet Camaro for the Championship’s leading team, the Belgian side PK Carsport.

Costamare Shipping Company is sponsoring Thomas Krasonis’s campaign in the NASCAR Euro Series.

 

The three-day programme

The racing programme begins with free practice at midday on Friday. The first V8GP free practice session starts at 3.05 pm, whilst the second free practice session will take place at 5.35 pm.

Saturday’s schedule for the V8GP begins with qualifying at 11.15 am, and each driver will have the opportunity to complete two fast laps. The first race of the two-day event for the top category will start at 3.50 pm and will consist of 18 laps or 45 minutes plus one lap.

On Sunday, a warm-up session is scheduled for 10.00 am, whilst the second V8PG race will start at 3.50 pm and run for 18 laps. All times mentioned above are Greek time.

As for the weather, forecasts predict sunshine throughout the three-day weekend, with temperatures reaching 29 degrees Celsius.

As was the case last year, ANT1+ will bring its subscribers all the action from both Saturday’s and Sunday’s races, with commentary in Greek! There will also be live coverage via the official EuroNASCAR YouTube channel

Krasonis: “An incredibly unlucky moment…”

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Mechanical failures are part and parcel of motorsport. And a driver with more than ten years’ experience on international circuits, such as Thomas Krasonis, knows that what he experienced on Sunday at Most is also part of the ‘game’.

‘It’s true that the three-day event began with high expectations for us. On Friday we showed our excellent pace, on Saturday we secured pole position, and in Saturday’s race, had I not made a few minor mistakes, I could have finished higher up,” the 2025 OPEN Champion emphasised at the outset.

“On Sunday we wanted to get back on the podium, as at this stage of the Championship, every point is invaluable. However, luck wasn’t on our side. It was an incredibly unfortunate moment we experienced, as out of… nowhere, the drive shaft snapped, forcing us to retire and preventing us from  securing the points we wanted and deserved based on our performance over the two days,” he added.

He concluded: “We’re not giving up. We never have. We’re carrying on with the hard work, as we have two three-day race weekends ahead of us, during which there will be double points on offer. The gap to the top isn’t so big that it can’t be closed; on the contrary, if luck smiles on us just a little this time, anything can happen! I would particularly like to thank my sponsor, Costamare Shipping Company, which for yet another year has stood by my side in supporting our efforts; Alon Day and Paul Tympas for their invaluable contribution; and my family.”

A bittersweet outcome for Thomas Krasonis

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The fourth race weekend of the 2026 NASCAR Euro Series, held at the Most circuit in the Czech Republic, ended on a bittersweet note for Thomas Krasonis.

The three-day event got off to a flying start for the 2025 OPEN Champion, as he set the fastest time in Friday’s first free practice session and finished second in the second free practice session. Saturday got off to an even better start for the Greek driver, as he progressed to the Superpole in qualifying, where he set the fastest time out of the 10 participants and secured pole position for the race that followed.

Saturday’s race proved quite a struggle for the Greek driver, as although he started from pole position, a series of incidents during the race, combined with a few crucial mistakes, denied him the chance to celebrate victory. However, he finished third, picking up valuable points. Jordan O’Brien was declared the winner, whilst Gianmarco Ercoli came second.

In Sunday’s race, Krasonis started third and withstood the relentless pressure from his rivals. In the sixth round, however, whilst on course for a podium finish, Krasonis retired due to a broken driveshaft, resulting in him securing just 16 points.

Following the fourth race weekend, Thomas Krasonis remains in 6th place in the V8GP championship standings with 201 points, whilst the leader, Vittorio Ghirelli, has 253.

The next round takes place over the three days from 18 to 20 September at the Vallelunga circuit in Italy, featuring this season’s double semi-final.

This season, Thomas Krasonis is competing in the V8GP class – which until last year was known as PRO – driving the number ‘13’ Chevrolet Camaro for the Championship’s leading team, the Belgian side PK Carsport.

Costamare Shipping Company is supporting Thomas Krasonis’s campaign in the NASCAR Euro Series.

Back in action at the Most track for Thomas Krasonis

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Back in action after the long summer break of the NASCAR Euro Series for Thomas Krasonis. The 2025 OPEN class Champion in the NASCAR Euro Series is all set for the fourth race weekend of 2026, as he is already in the Czech Republic to participate in the race that will be held at the Most track.

The NASCAR GP Czech Republic is the first race of the second half of the season and is essentially a great opportunity for the drivers to collect valuable points in view of the double semi-finals of the Championship in Italy, as well as the finals in Belgium.

The three-day weekend in the Czech Republic includes many activities, both racing and family. This is one of the most anticipated events on the NASCAR Euro Series schedule, showcasing the best of European racing, from the V8 NASCAR Euro Series to the thrilling races of the FIA ​​European Truck Championship. Combined with a rich side program with a family-friendly festival atmosphere, which will be the setting for the final round of the regular season, this is the ultimate end-of-summer weekend for motorsports enthusiasts. Autodrom Most opened its doors in 1983 and is an FIA Grade 2 track. The track is 4,212 meters long and consists of 21 turns.

After winning the OPEN title last season, Thomas Krasonis is participating in the V8GP category this season, driving the Chevrolet Camaro with the number “13” of the top team in the Championship, the Belgian PK Carsport.

Thomas Krasonis’ effort in the NASCAR Euro Series is supported by Costamare Shipping Company.

 

The three-day schedule

The racing schedule begins with free practice on Friday afternoon. The first free practice of the V8GP starts at 3.50 pm, while the second free practice will be held at 6.15 pm.

The Saturday schedule for the V8GP starts with qualifying at 10.55 am and each driver will have the opportunity to do two fast laps. The first race of the two-day for the top category will start at 3.40 pm. and will last 17 laps or 45’ plus one lap.

On Sunday, there is a Warm Up scheduled at 9.25 am, while the start of the second race of V8PG will be given at 3.40 pm, lasting 17 laps. All the aforementioned times are Greek.

Regarding the weather conditions, the forecasts speak of cloudy weather throughout the three-day event, with a possibility of rain on Saturday and in the early hours of Sunday and temperatures that will fluctuate around 25 degrees Celsius.

As happened last year, ANT1+ will transmit to its subscribers all the action from both Saturday and Sunday’s races, with description in Greek! There will also be live coverage on the official EuroNASCAR YouTube channel

Krasonis: “Important points for the rest of the season”

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Despite the difficulties he faced in both races on British soil, Thomas Krasonis feels satisfied with the results at Brands Hatch.
“The three-day event began with high expectations for us, following the record I set on Friday. The weather wasn’t on our side on Saturday, and combined with some wrong choices regarding tire pressure, we weren’t able to be more competitive,” the 2025 OPEN Champion noted initially.
“On Sunday, the race was very demanding, with a lot of contact between the cars. Unfortunately, some of those collisions caused significant damage to our car, whose performance plummeted in the final laps. However, we didn’t give up; we pushed as hard as the car’s condition allowed, and in the end, we left England with important points for the Championship,” he added.
And he concluded: “As we reach the Championship’s summer break, our focus is on continuing the hard work. Preparation for the next race begins immediately, and we’ll be fully ready when the Championship resumes to give it our all. I would like to extend a special thank you to my sponsor, Costamare Shipping Company, which has stood by my side for yet another year, supporting our efforts, to Alon Day and Paul Tymbas for their invaluable contributions and to my family.”

Mission Accomplished for Thomas Krasonis

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Thomas Krasonis scored crucial points at the NASCAR GP UK, the third doubleheader of this season, which took place at the Brands Hatch circuit.
The three-day event got off to a strong start for the 2025 OPEN Champion, as he set the all-time record on a dry track at Brands Hatch (48.285 seconds) during Friday’s free practice sessions. On Saturday, the weather made things very difficult for the competitors, as conditions were mixed, with intermittent rain, while at times it would stop raining and the track would dry out. Qualifying took place in the rain, which affected Krasonis, as the car’s setup was not ideal. However, he managed to qualify for the Superpole, where five drivers fought a fierce battle with their times all within the same tenth of a second! In the end, Thomas posted the seventh-fastest time.
Saturday’s race was equally taxing for the Greek driver, as the heavy rain everyone had been expecting never came. The result was that the already high tire pressures the team had chosen for Krasonis’s car increased even further. So, while he gained several positions after the start and found himself in fourth place, the tires overheated and their performance plummeted. He finished in 7th place, but after Ercoli was disqualified, he moved up one spot in the final results of Saturday’s race.
Because he was unable to set a good time on Saturday due to tire pressure issues, Thomas started from 12th place in Sunday’s race. However, he got off to a great start and, taking advantage of his speed on the dry track, moved up to 6th place. After Ercoli retired, though, he gained another position and ultimately finished 5th. The race, however, was extremely difficult, with numerous collisions, as a result of which Thomas’s car sustained significant damage to its aerodynamic components, causing performance to drop again in the final laps
After the third race weekend, Thomas Krasonis is in 6th place in the V8GP standings with 166 points.
This season, Thomas Krasonis is competing in the V8GP class—formerly known as PRO—driving the No. 13 Chevrolet Camaro for the championship-leading Belgian team, PK Carsport.
Costamare Shipping Company is a sponsor of Thomas Krasonis’s efforts in the NASCAR Euro Series.

Krasonis: “Brands Hatch is my favorite track”

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Thomas Krasonis is particularly excited about returning to a track he loves and has fond memories of from his past races there.
“Brands Hatch, without exaggeration, is my favorite track among those included in the NASCAR Euro Series schedule. It may be a short track, but it’s unique and demanding, and it doesn’t let you relax for a second, since the laps are very fast. “I’ve always enjoyed driving at Brands Hatch and I can’t wait to be back on the track,” the Greek driver emphasized
He added: “Unfortunately, during the first two race weekends, the Saturday races didn’t go as we’d hoped, due to other competitors whose mistakes cost us significant points. But we have to look ahead. We’ve discussed this with the team, and we know exactly what we need to do this weekend. The goal remains clear, and we’ll do whatever it takes on the track to get the results that will allow us to achieve it.”
He concluded by saying: “I’m fully prepared and will do whatever it takes to secure a very good result in England. I’d like to thank the people who support my efforts, above all Costamare, who’s always by my side, my coach Alon Day, my trainer Paul Tyba, and of course my family and friends.”