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NASCAR GP Italy 2023 – All roads lead to Rome for Thomas Krasonis

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After the first two rounds of the 2023 EuroNASCAR season, Thomas Krasonis and Marko Stipp Motorsport go to the Vallelunga Circuit.

Situated near Rome, the 4,085 km-track is a unique challenge for the big NASCAR cars – especially on the last 5 turns, on the most technical and slow part of the circuit.

‘I have raced at Vallelunga in the past, and recently I tested there with my car, so I can say that I know it pretty well. I feel comfortable driving in it,’ said Krasonis.

This is the venue in which he achieved his first podium in the series last year, when he was 3rd in the Junior category of the EuroNASCAR PRO championship.

The schedule for the race weekend (Local Italian Time):

Saturday, July 8

Qualifying – 09:50

Race 1 – 13:20

Sunday, July 9

Race 2 – 13:35

Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Bart Dehaese

NASCAR GP UK 2023: Next stop – Brands Hatch!

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The 2023 NASCAR Euro Whelen Series continues this weekend at the Brands Hatch circuit, and Thomas Krasonis will be competing in the EuroNASCAR PRO category, with Marko Stipp Motorsport.

It’s been a lengthy break between the opening race weekend in Valencia to this coming weekend in England, West Kingsdown.

The 1.944 km circuit is the Indy version of Brands Hatch. Situated in the southeast of England, it offers a unique challenge for the monstrous NASCAR machines, with just 6 corners, all but one being right handers.

After the first two races of the season, Thomas Krasonis is at the P11 in the standings, after his impressive podium finish in the Junior category of EuroNASCAR PRO.

‘Brands Hatch is definitely the most exciting race for me personally,’ said Thomas.

‘For one, it’s my favorite circuit on the calendar, and secondly, I have had my best ever finish in the series there. Therefore I am looking forward to race again in British ground in a high level competition once again.’

Saturday, June 17
Qualifying: 9:50 CEST
Race 1: 13:50 CEST

Sunday, June 18
Race 2: 14:00 CEST

You can watch all the action HERE, and  follow Thomas Krasonis on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Bart Dehaese

NASCAR GP Ισπανίας 2023: Βάθρο στην κατηγορία του για τον Θωμά Κρασώνη

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Ο Θωμάς Κρασώνης φεύγει από τη Βαλένθια με ένα βάθρο και δύο καλούς αγώνες στο άνοιγμα της αυλαίας του φετινού πρωταθλήματος EuroNASCAR Pro.

Η πρεμιέρα του πρωταθλήματος EuroNASCAR Pro για το 2023 ήρθε με δύο θετικά αποτελέσματα, και το βάθρο στην υποκατηγορία Junior του θεσμού για τον Θωμά Κρασώνη.

Εκκινώντας 13ος στον αγώνα του Σαββάτου, ο Κρασώνης οδήγησε μεστά και πέρασε τη γραμμή του τερματισμού πάλι στην 13η θέση.

Την Κυριακή, ξεκίνησε 15ος, και κατάφερε να οδηγήσει και πάλι με σταθερό ρυθμό και καλό γυρολόγιο, εκμεταλλευόμενος λάθη και συμβάντα, αποφεύγοντας ο ίδιος τα ατοπήματα σε μία αρκετά καυτή μάχη και στους 18 γύρους του αγώνα.

Έτσι, κατάφερε να αναρριχηθεί ως την 8η θέση, και την 3η στην κατηγορία Junior του EuroNASCAR Pro, στο δεύτερο βάθρο του στο πρωτάθλημα μετά από εκείνο στην Ιταλία το 2022.

Αυτοί ήταν οι δύο πρώτοι αγώνες του με την νέα του ομάδα, τη Marko Stipp Motorsport, την οποία έσπευσε να ευχαριστήσει για την καθοδήγηση όλη τη διάρκεια του τριημέρου.

«Αρχικά, θέλω να πω ότι είμαι πάρα πολύ ευχαριστημένος από την ομάδα, ειδικά στον τομέα της τεχνικής στήριξης αλλά της μελέτης της τηλεμετρίας. Με αυτόν τον τρόπο κατάφερα να βελτιώσω αρκετά τους χρόνους μου, και τον ρυθμό που είχα στον αγώνα.

«Καταφέραμε να έχουμε έναν καθαρό αγώνα, με καλές μάχες, χωρίς ζημιές και στους δύο αγώνες. Η συνεννόηση με τον spotter ήταν εξαιρετική, όπως και συνολικά η συνεργασία με την ομάδα.

«Παραμένουμε συγκεντρωμένοι και προσηλωμένοι στους στόχους μας, θέλοντας να τα πάμε ακόμα καλύτερα τον Ιούνιο στην Αγγλία.»

Όσο για τον ανταγωνισμό, ο Κρασώνης τόνισε πως το επίπεδο έχει ανέβει σε σχέση με τα προηγούμενα χρόνια στην κατηγορία, όντας πια κι ο ίδιος στη 2η σεζόν του στο πρωτάθλημα EuroNASCAR Pro:

«Πρέπει να αναφερθεί, επιπλέον, πως το επίπεδο στην Pro κατηγορία έχει βελτιωθεί σημαντικά. Αυτό φαίνεται κι από το γεγονός ότι από την 1η ως την 16η θέση, όλοι κινούνται ταχύτατα, ο ανταγωνισμός έχει ανέβει.»

Photo Credits: Bart Dehaese

ΝΑSCAR GP Czech Republic – Coming in hot after the podium

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Thomas Krasonis returns from the summer break, ready to give everything he has after the podium finish at Vallelunga. Next stop: Autodrom Most!

On 3 and 4 of September, Thomas Krasonis and the Academy Motorsport team will compete in the third round of this year’s EuroNASCAR championship, the NASCAR GP Czech Republic.

We sat down with Thomas for a quick Q&A, to get his feeling after the long weeks without a race.

-How was the summer break for you?

I didn’t have enough time to go to vacations this summer, due to the commitments I had. Now I’m ready for the races at Most!

-Talk us through the experience of working with the Centaurus Racing Team.

It was a beautiful and unique experience. It’s a group of 42 mechanics and enginners from the University of Thessaly, and they outdid themselves in order to build and race this race car. They have my utmost respect, and I thank them for the opportunity to compete with it.

-What are your past experiences at the Most circuit?

I have raced there before. It’s a very fast flowing and pleasing to drive in track. In fact, it’s one of my favorites in the EuroNASCAR calendar!

-So, what are your expectations for the race weekened in Czechia?

If everything goes to plan, I don’t believe I lack in any aspect to the guys in front. Good qualifying and a good start will help us take a solid result, with the goal always being a finishing position in the top 10.

And here is the schedule for this weekend (in Local Czech Republic Time)

Saturday, September 3

Qualifying – 10:50

Race 1 – 13:50

Sunday, September 4

Race 2 – 15:00

Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Klemen Sofric

NASCAR GP Italy – All roads lead to Rome for Thomas Krasonis

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After the first two rounds of the 2022 EuroNASCAR season, Thomas Krasonis and Academy MotorSport go to the Vallelunga Circuit, aiming at better results.

Situated near Rome, the 4,085 km-track is a unique challenge for the big NASCAR cars – especially on the last 5 turns, on the most technical and slow part of the circuit.

‘I have raced at Vallelunga in the past, and recently I tested there with my car, so I can say that I know it pretty well. I feel comfortable driving in it,’ said Krasonis.

The schedule for the race weekend (Local Italian Time):

Saturday, July 9

Qualifying – 10:00

Race 1 – 14:00

Sunday, July 10

Race 2 – 10:30

Photo Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

NASCAR GP Spain – Race 2: Top 15 finish with 12 overtakes for Thomas Krasonis

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Thomas Krasonis came back from P26 to finish inside the top 15 on Race 2 of the NASCAR GP Spain in Valencia.

It was a race of attrition and redemption for Thomas Krasonis.

After his comeback in Race 1 on Saturday, Thomas started Sunday’s race from P26, having set the 26th fastest lap time during the first race.

In the 18 laps that followed, the #1 Academy MotorSport driver did all he could and more to climb back in the top 20, and then into the top 15 of the standings.

The two Safety Car periods helped him on his cause, as he battled his way up to P14 at the finish line.

This means he gained 20 positions between the two races at the Circuito Ricardo Tormo during this first NASCAR GP of the season.

The race results are as follows:

Photo Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Bart Dehaese

NASCAR GP Spain 2022: Debut for Thomas Krasonis in the EuroNASCAR Pro category

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The 2022 NASCAR Euro Whelen Series begins this weekend at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, and Thomas Krasonis will make his debut in the EuroNASCAR Pro category, with Academy MotorSport.

It’s been a long time coming for this return in the racing bucket for Thomas. After a very positive test session in Italy a couple of weeks ago, the Academy Motorsport driver is ready to tackle the first round of the 2022 season, in Valencia.

It’s a track Thomas knows very well, having raced there previously in 2019 and 2021.

He will now drive t he Ford Mustang NASCAR, a brand new car for his first outing in the Elite 1 category of the series.

”Testing went well, as we prepared for the new season and learnt some new things on the car,” said Thomas. ”Now, I feel ready to face this new, exciting challenge of driving on the top category of the championship, and score some big points inside the top 10.”

The 4.005 km circuit in the southeast of Spain offers a good mix of slow, tight corners, and more fast kinks that pose a challenge for the drivers, especially when driving these beasts that the NASCAR cars are.

The schedule of the weekend is as follows:

Saturday, May 14
Qualifying: 9:45 CEST

Sunday, May 15:
Race 2: 14:05 CEST

You can watch all the action HERE, and  follow Thomas Krasonis on Facebook and Twitter.

EuroNASCAR Belgium – Race 1: Strong finish with 7 places gained at Zolder

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Thomas Krasonis finished P12 in Race 1 at Circuit Zolder, gaining 7 places from his starting position.

It was a good race for Thomas Krasonis, who starts to return to form at the Dutch round of this year’s EuroNASCAR championship.

Having qualified P19, Thomas had set his sights on a points’ finishing position, and that mindset did pay off.

He gained 2 positions quickly, having settled on P17 after two laps.

After a few uneventful laps, Thomas pushed forward and started applying pressure to those in front of him.

Eventually, he went on to take P12, which a 7-position improvement to his qualifying result.

The starting grid for Race 2 will be formed from the fastest lap of each driver on the first race of the weekend.

You can catch all the action following the link below:

Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Bart Dehaese

EuroNASCAR Croatia – Race 2: More points for Thomas Krasonis out of Grobnik

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Thomas Krasonis got another batch of points out of Race 2 at NASCAR GP Croatia.

The grid for Sunday’s race was set from the fastest lap from Race 1, so Thomas started P17.

After the start, he made up one place, climbing up to P16, before going back down to P18.

He got his pace back, though, and started chasing the drivers in front of him, and managed to overtake both Valeri, and Lanza, to claim P16.

This means he got into the points once again, and leaves Croatia with two solid finishes.

You can watch the whole race in the link below:

 

EuroNASCAR Brands Hatch – Mechanical issue haults Thomas Krasonis’ progress in Race 1

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Thomas Krasonis had to retire from Race 1 at the Brands Hatch NASCAR weekend, due to a failure on the gearbox.

It was one of those days for Thomas Krasonis, who failed to finish the first of two races at the Brands Hatch circuit, because his gearbox failed in an unfortunate event.

Thomas started the race from P14, and even though he lost one position after the first lap, he climbed up to P12 after the Safety Car period ended.

For the next 6-7 laps, he continuously battled with his teammate, Vladimiros Tziortzis, as well as Naveh Talor and Yevgen Sokolovskiy for P11.

However, on lap 19 he suffered a problem with his gearbox on the EuroNASCAR FJ 2020 car, and had to pull off the racing line and onto the grass, to retire the car.

It was a really good showing of attacking, yet patient driving style from Krasonis, who will now aim for a better result come Race 2, on Sunday afternoon.

Photo credits: Stephane Azemard

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