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Krasonis: “A very difficult weekend with excellent results”

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Thomas Krasonis is completely satisfied with the results in the four races on Italian soil. “It was a very difficult weekend, on a track of special characteristics. The two races on Sunday were demanding, but overall the result of the second race weekend of the season is absolutely positive” said Thomas Krasonis.

He added: “In the OPEN race I chose to follow to the letter the rule set out in the restart procedure after yellow flags all over the track. Some other drivers were absolutely marginal in the restart procedure, which is why the stewards considered at length the possibility of imposing jump start penalties. We may have been off the podium this time, but fourth place gave us valuable points, as we are at the top of the standings after two races on one of the most difficult tracks of the season. In the PRO I chose to protect my car’s engine when I realised the temperature was marginally higher, due to being in the impure air of those ahead of me for some time. In racing you have to drive with brains and caution. Sometimes it is better to limit yourself to a lower position in the classification, ensuring that you don’t give up and that you get the points needed to achieve the final goal. This podium kept us in the top three of the standings, and that’s the most important thing.”

He concluded: “Next up is the race at Brands Hatch, a track that is one of my favourites. We will prepare properly and give it our all to get the results that will keep us within our targets this year. Many thanks to my sponsors, Costamare and Dodoni, the Medical Centre for providing me with medical services, my team PK Carsport, my coach Alon Day, Paul Timbas who is responsible for my physical condition and of course all my mechanics.”

Second podium and valuable points in Italy for Thomas Krasonis!

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With one victory and two podiums the second race weekend of the year in the NASCAR Euro Series for Thomas Krasoni was completed! The first Greek professional racing driver after his victory in Saturday’s race in the OPEN< category climbed again on the podium, this time on the third step, in Sunday’s PRO category race at the Autodromo di Vallelunga

After the victory in Saturday’s OPEN race, which was… chaotic, Thomas Krasonis on Sunday continued his very good performances in this category. He started first once again, managed the race very well, as some accidents and yellow flags all over the track (FCY) caused some shuffling, resulting in the Greek driver finishing fourth, where he finished. The points he collected are valuable, as Krasonis is leading the OPEN standings with 131 points after the first four races of the season, in Spain and Italy.

In the PRO race, Thomas Krasonis celebrated another podium in the season! In essence, it was a race during which the 23-year-old driver was in the top three for the entire duration. In order to protect his car’s engine, as the short distance from the leading Hezemans resulted in the temperature rising, he chose to leave a short distance and not get involved in the Dutchman’s wheel-to-wheel battle with Ghirelli. He eventually finished the race in third place, collecting points that keep him high in the standings, as he is third with 141 points, just four behind leader Jouffreau, while also holding second place in the Junior category for drivers up to 25 years old.

Thomas Krasonis will once again compete in both the PRO and OREN NASCAR Euro Series divisions this year, driving the number 13 Chevrolet Camaro of the championship’s top team, the Belgian PK Carsport, in all races.

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.

The third race weekend of the season will take place on the weekend of 7 and 8 June at the Brands Hatch circuit in England.

Krasonis: “It was a chaotic race, I’m very happy for the victory”

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Thomas Krasonis in his statements immediately after the race was over stood on the dramatic on-track development. “At the start I looked in my mirror and saw that I was under pressure, but I managed the situation and stayed in the lead. After a while I looked in the mirror again and saw no one near me. At that moment I was informed of the red flag. I wish my teammates involved in the accident a speedy return to racing.”

He added: “After the restart I did exactly what my coach, Alon Day, had told me to do, which was to protect my position, watch my race and soon created a gap sufficient to give me the win. Despite the two FCYs, I was not actually threatened. We pushed until the end to secure pole position and we did it on the last lap. I’m happy with the win, we’re going strong. Unfortunately we couldn’t make the podium and the PRO race. On Sunday we will give everything to be on the podium again.”

And he concluded: “Many thanks to my sponsors, Costamare and Dodoni, the Medical Center that offers me medical services, my team PK Carsport, my coach Alon Day, Paul Timbas who is responsible for my physical condition and of course all my mechanics”.

First win in Vallelunga for Thomas Krasonis!

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Thomas Krasonis continues to impress! The first Greek professional racing driver climbed again on the highest step of the podium, this time on Italian soil, in the second race weekend of this year’s NASCAR Euro Series championship.

The Autodromo di Vallelunga proved to be a place of triumph for Krasonis, who took victory in Saturday’s OPEN race, which was… chaotic! Firstly due to the red flag that came out at the end of the second lap and then a series of scary accidents that resulted in the track being filled with debris.

The restart, after more than half an hour of stoppage, came after two laps behind the safety car. Krasonis managed the situation perfectly, was not threatened and within two laps had built up a gap of more than 3 seconds. Not even the two yellow flags that came out afterwards could stop the frenetic pace of the 23-year-old driver, who went on to an emphatic victory, his second in the OPEN class this year and third overall!

In the PRO race, Thomas Krasonis finished fifth, after many battles with the other drivers.

With this victory, Thomas Krasonis reached 98 points and is first in the OPEN standings, three points ahead of Bruno Mulders, who was second in the Vallelunga race. In the PRO, Krasonis’ 32 points brought him to 107 and he is seven points behind leader Paul Jouffreau.

Thomas Krasonis will again compete in both the PRO and OREN NASCAR Euro Series divisions this year, driving in all races the #13 Chevrolet Camaro of the Championship’s premier 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.

Krasonis: “We are ready to give it all”

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Having already put the two wins in Valencia in the season opener behind him, Thomas Krasonis has been preparing intensively for the second race of the year, both in the gym, under the guidance of Paul Tymbas, and on the track. Last week the Greek driver was in Vallelunga where he spent a day testing his race car, with his coach, Alon Day, at his side.

“The race weekend in Valencia is a thing of the past. From the day after the race onwards, we focused on preparing for the Valelunga race, which is one of the most demanding in the Championship. This is because, in addition to the particularities of this particular track, Vallelunga is a home race for many of my teammates, so they know the secrets of this particular track very well”, the Greek driver stresses.

He adds: “Last week Alon and I were in Italy last week and we were testing with the team. I did a lot of kilometres on the track and I definitely gained a lot of experience ahead of the race, working a lot on the set-up of the car with the engineers. I think we are at a very good level and we are ready to give it our all. As I said before the Valencia race, our task is difficult, but the objective is clear. There is a five-year plan underway, at the end of which we want to be in the United States and the NASCAR Cup Series. We are going strong and we want to pick up points that will take us into the play-offs to challenge for the titles.”

He concluded: “I want to thank everyone who is with me in this effort. First and foremost my sponsors, Costamare Shipping Company and Dodoni Dairy, who are making a great contribution to ensure that this journey continues to be a success. The Athens Medical Group for their continuous medical support before and after each race. And of course the Antenna Group, who brings the action from all the NASCAR Euro Series races to every home.”

Episode 2 of our video series is now on YouTube

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The second episode of this year’s series regarding what Thomas has to do as a racing driver in order to win, is now available on YouTube!

The second episode takes place in Italy for the rounds 3&4 for EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR 2 category.

Enjoy!

Thomas Krasonis: “All set for new podiums”

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Thomas Krasonis is fully committed to his goal, which is none other than to claim both titles in the categories in which he participates. “We travel to Italy with a clear goal: our first victories of the season. Being on the podium in the first three days of racing this season was just the beginning. We have prepared very well in the time between Valencia and Vallelunga. Even during the Holy Days of Easter, we didn’t get complacent in order to continue even more strongly what we started in Valencia,” said the Greek driver.

He continued: “Valellunga is a favourite track for me. I know it very well, as I have been racing there for many years. It is a difficult and demanding track, which includes fast and technical sections. During the winter, together with our team, we worked closely on areas such as immediate reactions if something happens right in front of us. And this work showed in Valencia, when we avoided very unpleasant situations that unfolded right in front of us. We are ready for new pedestals”.

Thomas Krasonis concluded by saying that “a very important part of success is the excellent cooperation of all team members. We have an excellent cooperation with Marko Stipp Motorsport, which is now well into its second season. The car in Valencia worked extremely well, which is very important in order to be able to achieve our goals”.

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

EuroNASCAR Italy – Race 1: P12 on a rollercoaster race for Thomas Krasonis

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Thomas Krasonis got P12 in Race 1 at Autodromo Vallelunga, in an up-and-down 60 km run with lots of overtakes and a Safety Car period.

This year’s EuroNASCAR championship ends at Vallelugna, outside Rome, and the goal was and is the same: a finishing position at the top 10.

Thomas started Race 1 from P16, and what was about to happen for the next 15 laps was an amazing rollercoaster of events.

He climbed up to P15 after the first couple of laps, and after that, he lost some ground battling it out with the other drivers. That meant he lost 3 positions, going back to P18 for the better part of the race.

However, with 5 laps remaining, #56 lost the control of his car, unable to continue, meaning that the Safety Car had to go out and set the pace while the track was cleared of the stationed car.

Thomas took advantage of the situation and got back to P15, just before the SC was deployed.

After it left the track, and with just 2 laps remaining, he managed to grab 3 more positions to finish in P12, securing a +6-finishing position on the results.

In a grid that is so competitive, with everyone trying to get every inch of advantage they can, this result is one to hold on.

Photo Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Klemen Sofric