Croatia to host NASCAR GP race for first time

ZAGREB, 23 October 2020 – Just weeks after Croatia was confirmed to host a WRC event next year, more good news from the world of motorsport. 

Croatia and Automotodrom Grobnik in Rijeka will host one of the most prestigious motorsport competitions in Europe, the “NASCAR GP” on November 14 and 15, 2020, HRT reports. 

Due to the epidemiological situation and restrictions caused by COVID-19, Croatia will now host the third race of the NWES Championship instead of the Czech Republic.

“In such a challenging and uncertain situation, we must be responsible and give priority to security. It is sad to postpone the Czech Republic for 2021, but at the moment this is the best decision for everyone. We are happy that we are developing a new event in Croatia with very motivated partners from Automotodrom Grobnik,” said the president of NWES Jerome Galpin after visiting the Grobnik runway.

“The Croatian coast is beautiful at this time of year. Rijeka is a perfect location, and the Grobnik runway is fast, technically demanding, fascinating! We are enthusiastic that we can offer NWES drivers and teams a new challenge and we are looking forward to the first Croatian NASCAR GP Croatia.”

“Automotodrom Grobnik cannot imagine a better end to the season. This is certainly the first step towards more attractive and numerous car competitions for the audience. This is proof that NWES President Jerome Galpin has recognized all the improvements we have made on the track itself and the entire facility in recent years. One of our goals is to provide support to the Croatian Auto and Karting Association (HAKS) and its president Davorin Štetner, believing that joint cooperation is inevitable for the future of motorsport and drivers so that they can compete in higher ranks. All this makes us happy despite this challenging year and gives us the right to believe that next year will bring some new sports challenges “, said the member of the Management Board of Automotodrom Grobnik Robert Žiković.

“We closely monitored the situation with COVID and at a crucial moment managed to ensure the arrival of the spectacular NASCAR for the first time in Croatia. I thank Automotodrom Grobnik and Robert Žiković for the excellent cooperation and I am looking forward to the strengthening of car competitions in Croatia!,” said the president of HAKS Davorin Štetner.

The first NASCAR Croatia will be broadcast live on EuroNESCAR social networks and on Motosport.tv and Kreator TV on November 14 and 15, 2020. 

One of the drivers in Rijeka will be Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, who was the winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the 1995 Cart-Champcar Championship He was also a Formula One world champion with Williams Renault (1997).