Imagine pouring your heart and soul into a high-stakes competition, battling tooth and nail against incredibly talented rivals. Now picture doing that twice and emerging victorious both times. That's exactly what Paul Jouffreau accomplished in the NASCAR Euro Series, securing his second Junior Trophy win and solidifying his place as a rising star. But here's where it gets controversial: was his victory a testament to pure skill, or did a bit of luck play a role in navigating the intense season?
Paul Jouffreau: A Two-Time Junior Trophy Champion
Reza Maulana www.nascar.eu October 15, 2025
The 2025 NASCAR Euro Series PRO season will be remembered for its fierce competition amongst young drivers. Paul Jouffreau, a name now synonymous with Junior Trophy excellence, battled relentlessly against a talented field that included Liam Hezemans, Garrett Lowe, Thomas Krasonis, and several other impressive young racers. Their performances throughout the season made a significant impact on the overall PRO standings, proving that the future of NASCAR in Europe is in good hands.
- Paul Jouffreau reigns supreme as the Junior Trophy winner for the second time.
- A dramatic Finals saw the Frenchman fend off strong challenges from Liam Hezemans and Garrett Lowe.
- An astounding six different drivers claimed Junior Trophy victories throughout the 2025 season, highlighting the depth of talent.
The NASCAR Euro Series is experiencing a vibrant youth movement, and the 2025 Junior Trophy season was a prime example. Six different drivers tasted victory in the Junior Trophy classification, a testament to the growing pool of young talent. And this is the part most people miss: five of these contenders consistently finished within the top 10 overall standings, proving they weren't just competing for a separate trophy, but were genuinely challenging the established PRO drivers. This intense competition fueled everyone's desire to win, but Paul Jouffreau, the 22-year-old Frenchman, proved to be the most consistent and ultimately the most successful. His four Junior Trophy victories underscored his status as one of the most exciting talents in the PRO division. Some might argue that experience played a key role in Jouffreau's triumph, but others will say that raw talent and relentless determination were the deciding factors.
Valencia: A Glimpse of the Future in Victory Lane
The season kicked off at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, with seven Junior Trophy hopefuls eager to make their mark. Expectations were high, and they didn't disappoint. From the very beginning, Jouffreau asserted his dominance, winning both the overall race and the Junior Trophy on Saturday. He secured a commanding victory, finishing more than ten seconds ahead of a rising contender, Thomas Krasonis. Hezemans, a familiar face in the Junior Trophy scene since 2022, held off the American rookie Garrett Lowe to secure the final podium position in fifth overall.
Krasonis, having joined the powerhouse PK Carsport team during the winter break, significantly elevated his performance on Sunday. In a historic moment, the Greek driver led his teammate, the reigning overall champion Vittorio Ghirelli, to secure his maiden PRO victory, simultaneously claiming the Junior Trophy classification. This was a huge statement, suggesting that Krasonis was ready to challenge for the overall title.
Jouffreau maintained his consistency, securing valuable points with a third-place finish overall, which translated to second place in the Junior Trophy. Hezemans completed the podium after withstanding another race-long challenge from the impressive "hybrid racer" Lowe (a term used to describe drivers with a strong sim racing background). As a result, Krasonis led both the Junior Trophy and overall standings, edging out Jouffreau by a single point. This close margin set the stage for a season-long battle.
Vallelunga: Jouffreau Reclaims the Lead
Autodromo Vallelunga in Italy holds a special place in Jouffreau's heart. It was here that he achieved his first NASCAR Euro Series podium and victory in the OPEN division, back in 2022 and 2023, respectively. With his sights set on PRO success, winning at this track near Rome was crucial, and he delivered on Saturday with another double victory. He outpaced PRO champions Gianmarco Ercoli and Ghirelli in the overall standings, while Krasonis and Lowe trailed him in the Junior Trophy classifications. Was this a sign of Jouffreau's growing confidence and mastery of the car?
Hezemans bounced back on Sunday, clinching his first Junior Trophy win of the year after challenging Ghirelli for the race win in his Rette Jones Racing machine. Krasonis and Jouffreau completed the podium in third and sixth positions, respectively, earning crucial points in the standings. Jouffreau emerged as the Junior Trophy standings leader heading into Brands Hatch, holding a four-point advantage over Krasonis, with Lowe trailing 27 points behind in third place.
Brands Hatch: Davidson Seizes Home Advantage
A major upset occurred in the first race of the NASCAR GP UK. Mechanical issues sidelined Jouffreau, taking him out of contention. This opened the door for a new Junior Trophy winner, and who better to seize the opportunity than Jack Davidson, a local favorite? Racing for his family team, Lux Motorsport, in their distinctive pink #21 Chevrolet Camaro, Davidson leveraged his intimate knowledge of the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit to secure his first overall PRO podium and his first Junior Trophy win. It was a dream come true for the young Scotsman.
Davidson led Hezemans and young Dutchman Bruno Mulders, who celebrated his first special classification podium in only his second PRO race. Jouffreau rebounded in the second race, returning to the top step of the Junior Trophy ahead of Krasonis and Davidson. Despite this recovery, Jouffreau's earlier troubles meant he had to share the overall lead with Krasonis, who tied him on points heading into the summer break. Behind them, another tie emerged for third position, with Hezemans and Lowe level as the closest chasers. Julien Rehberg quietly followed in fifth, maintaining a consistent season of points accumulation.
Most: Lowe's "Hybrid" Talent Shines
Another fresh face emerged victorious in the Junior Trophy when the NASCAR Euro Series returned to Autodrom Most for the NASCAR GP Czech Republic. Lowe, the sim racer turned "hybrid racer" for 2025, secured his first class victory in the first Czechia race. He achieved this feat by winning a thrilling duel with Krasonis for the overall podium. Davidson continued his Junior Trophy podium streak in seventh position, while Jouffreau minimized the damage with a ninth-place finish.
Jouffreau aimed for a comeback similar to his performance at Brands Hatch in the second race, but Hezemans proved too strong. The Rette Jones Racing driver dominated the Junior Trophy battle, winning the classification by nearly ten seconds ahead of Jouffreau and Mulders. Considering Hezemans' extensive experience, some might argue that he had an unfair advantage. However, the other drivers were quick to praise his skill and determination. When each driver's worst result was dropped at the end of the round, Jouffreau regained the sole overall Junior Trophy lead. The Frenchman led Krasonis by seven points heading into the double-points Playoffs in Germany and Belgium, with Hezemans, Lowe, and Rehberg rounding out the top five overall positions.
Oschersleben: Playoff Drama Delivers
Playoffs are synonymous with drama, excitement, and unpredictability. The first race of the NASCAR GP Germany was no exception. An opening-lap collision between top championship contenders Ghirelli and Ercoli triggered a significant incident. Hezemans skillfully navigated the chaos and cruised to his first overall win of 2025, simultaneously claiming his third Junior Trophy win. Is this a testament to his racing instincts and ability to stay calm under pressure?
The incident created an opportunity for an all-Junior Trophy podium, with Lowe and Jouffreau completing both podiums with their second and third-place finishes. Canadian ace Raphael Lessard secured fourth place in the special classification on his PRO debut, made possible through the driver exchange program between NASCAR Euro Series and NASCAR Canada Series, facilitated by TEAM FJ and the Canadian race team. This highlights the growing global reach of NASCAR.
Jouffreau responded once again in the second race, reclaiming his Junior Trophy throne in second overall. Lowe and Mulders rounded out the podium after strong performances at the technical Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. With Hezemans and Krasonis experiencing mechanical issues, Jouffreau extended his overall Junior Trophy lead to 38 points heading into the Finals in Belgium. Lowe surpassed Krasonis to become Jouffreau's closest challenger, though the Greek driver remained a threat in third.
Zolder: Jouffreau Seals the Deal
The NASCAR Euro Series Finals at Circuit Zolder began with an event that nearly overturned the entire Junior Trophy standings. Thomas Toffel made contact with Mulders at the start of Final 1. Mulders' Team Bleekemolen machine then collided with Jouffreau, resulting in an early retirement for the Frenchman. Hezemans capitalized on the situation, winning the Junior Trophy classification ahead of Krasonis and Rehberg, allowing all three to close the gap on Jouffreau. For Rehberg, sixth place in PRO marked his best career finish to date and his only visit to a class podium in 2025. Was this incident simply bad luck, or was there more to it than met the eye?
With no fastest laps recorded on Saturday, Jouffreau faced a daunting task in Final 02, having to battle his way through the field from second-to-last to maintain his chances of winning the overall Junior Trophy classification. Following a frightening incident involving Giorgio Maggi, the 2022 Junior Trophy overall winner, on the opening lap, Jouffreau completed a stunning comeback, securing his back-to-back overall classification win with a sixth-place finish. Mulders secured his breakthrough Trophy victory in third overall, becoming the youngest PRO podium finisher in the process. Hezemans finished between Mulders and Jouffreau, claiming second place on the Junior Trophy podium.
Having secured the overall Junior Trophy and finishing within the top three positions in the standings for the second consecutive year, Jouffreau will have the honor of being recognized among the NASCAR elite during the NASCAR Awards Banquet in Charlotte, North Carolina, on November 21st. This recognition is a testament to his talent and hard work.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
So, what do you think? Was Paul Jouffreau the most deserving winner, or did circumstances play a bigger role than skill? Do you believe the "hybrid racer" model is the future of NASCAR, or does traditional racing experience still hold the key to success? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
