NASCAR Euro Series: Happinessa fights through adversity at Autodrom Most
- LIAM REDFORD
- 5 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Despite battling technical issues throughout the latest round of the NASCAR Euro Series, Happinessa adapted well to the challenges of Autodrom Most as she showed speed to fight within the top-15 and gained experience in both wet and dry conditions across the weekend, securing the Lady Trophy in Race 2.
Happinessa battled technical issues throughout the latest round of the NASCAR Euro Series at Autodrom Most despite the German driver displaying good speed and determination on her first visit to the circuit. The Bremotion driver gained experience in both wet and dry conditions across the NASCAR Euro Series Rookie Challenge and free practice sessions before misfortune struck.
Happinessa was unable to set a representative time in qualifying due to technical issues and these persisted into race one where she was unable to take the start. In race two, Happinessa showed good speed as she battled on the fringes of the top-15, before further issues with her car led to an unfortunate retirement.
Following a lengthy summer break, the NASCAR Euro Series returned for the second half of the season with its annual trip to Autodrom Most in Czechia. This was another new circuit for Happinessa to learn and also one of the most challenging with one of the longest laps of the year, combined with a mix of high and low speed corners.
In her rookie season in the Euro NASCAR Open category, Happinessa has taken significant strides forward despite her inexperience. Racing alongside the Bremotion team, the German racer arrived at Autodrom Most with two top-15 finishes to her name, including a 15th place finish last time out at Brands Hatch. Racing in the United Kingdom for the first time, Happinessa briefly ran in the leading group of drivers in changeable conditions as she banked valuable experience.
As has been customary in her debut campaign, Happinessa began the weekend by participating in the NASCAR Euro Series Rookie Challenge. The short sessions were held in wet conditions which gave Happinessa additional knowledge ahead of the two practice session held for the NASCAR Euro Series Open drivers later that afternoon.
In free practice one, conditions remained damp and therefore the drivers fitted the wet weather tyres for the first half of the session. After switching to the slicks for the closing stages, Happinessa set the 18th fastest time after completing a total of 12 laps.
The second session was held in full dry conditions and was representative of the remainder of the weekend’s running. Happinessa completed a session-high 16 laps and her quickest lap of a 1:46.667 placed her in 17th position overall, while her times through the first sector were particularly strong.
Qualifying took place on Saturday morning and the Euro NASCAR Open drivers were split into two groups with ten minutes available for the drivers to set a fast time. A technical issue prevented Happinessa from getting out on track until the final minute of the first group and therefore the Bremotion driver was unable to set a representative qualifying time.
The opening race of the weekend was held on Saturday afternoon and initially Happinessa lined up on the grid. As the drivers began the formation lap, a technical issue prevented Happinessa from leaving her position and her car was subsequently pushed into the pits. Unfortunately, Happinessa was unable to start race one at Autodrom Most and instead looked ahead to the second race on Sunday morning.
Race two was held on Sunday morning with Happinessa lining up from 22nd on the grid. The car was repaired following the technical issues suffered the day previous and the German racer took her place on the double-file start. It was a clean run through the opening turn with Happinessa holding her position before contact began to unfold ahead.
An incident involving Patrick Schober and Valerio Marzi left Marzi’s car beached in the gravel. As a result, the race entered a full course yellow period before the safety car was deployed to retrieve the stricken Club Competition machine. After passing Mike Wise on the opening lap while also benefiting from the contact ahead, Happinessa was in 20th place at the time of the neutralisation. Schober then pitted and was forced to retire from the race with his RDV Competition machine too damaged to continue, elevating Happinessa to 19th.
The race resumed on lap five and it was a busy restart with Gil Linster spinning at the opening turn, while a number of side-by-side battles took place throughout the field. Happinessa held 19th position and as the race settled into a rhythm, she began catching both Sven Van Laere and Fabrice Pantani. After Van Laere moved ahead of the debutant, Happinessa closed in further and ran just three tenths behind Pantani as the drivers completed lap seven.
Following an excellent move into turn one, Happinessa overtook Pantani on lap eight to claim 18th position away from the Speedhouse driver. As she continued to grow in confidence, Happinessa’s pace was strong and she was now applying pressure to Van Laere. Another good move, this time coming in the final sector, saw Happinessa pass Van Laere for 17th position with a sizeable gap now ahead of the Bremotion driver.
After Thomas Toffel spun into the gravel on lap 10, Happinessa was into 16th and targeting her third top-15 finish of the season. She continued to edge away from Van Laere, while her times through the first sector remained particularly strong.
Misfortune then struck with three laps remaining as a technical issue with the car led to a small fire breaking out on the exit of turn one. Although the fire was extinguished and Happinessa was able to drive away, the race was red flagged following this incident with the car being retired to the pits.
The race subsequently resumed behind the safety car, and while Happinessa was eventually able to rejoin, she was classified in 19th position to end a challenging weekend as she battled issues out of her control. The German driver nevertheless scored the Lady Trophy award at the end of Race 2.
Despite the setbacks, Happinessa adapted well to the challenges of Autodrom Most as she showed speed to fight with those inside the top-15. She will be looking for a change of fortune when the NASCAR Euro Series returns at Oschersleben on the weekend of 20th/21st September.
