PRESS RELEASE
Maggi and Capelli will share the No. 18 car
Race Art Technology will field two cars for three drivers in the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season. The Swiss-based racing team will put the #18 car in the hands of Giorgio Maggi for EuroNASCAR PRO and Claudio Remigio Cappelli for EuroNASCAR 2. A NWES title contender, Maggi is the organization’s spearhead in NASCAR’s elite series in Europe while Cappelli will be chasing the Legend Trophy for drivers aged 40 and over. Having worked together in 2022, the two drivers know each other well.
Maggi was one of the top drivers in the 2022 EuroNASCAR PRO season, closing his campaign fifth in points with four podium finishes that granted him the win in the Junior Trophy for drivers aged 25 and under. Established as a strong title contender, the Hergiswil native is looking to take the next step in his career and earn his first EuroNASCAR PRO race win. The 25-year-old, who finished runner-up in the 2019 EuroNASCAR 2 season and works in the renewable energy sector, became “addicted” to racing as a child and “pushed” his parents to pursue a career in motorsport for him.
“I want to win the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Championship,” said Maggi, who had prior experience in GT3, Formula 4 and prototype cars. “I really like EuroNASCAR thanks to a combination of several factors. For one, the cars are old school, which makes for close and exciting racing. The V8 beasts are also not as fragile as other modern race cars. The greatest invention of mankind is the H-pattern shifter. On the other hand, the fans experience a spectacular festival and get close to the cars, teams and drivers. The atmosphere is unbelievable.”
Maggi will be joined by Italy’s Cappelli. The Robecco D’Oglio resident made his full-time EuroNASCAR debut in the 2022 season and pulled double duty at select events. The Cremona native finished on the podium in both the Rookie Trophy and Legend Trophy, so his goal for the 2023 season is to challenge for the win in the special classification for drivers aged 40 and over. The roofer enjoys riding his Harley Davidson in his spare time and was bitten by the racing bug as a child. With his famous signature beard, Cappelli is ready to go for the gold.
“I hope to make it into the top 5,” said the Italian, who cites Gilles Villeneue as his motorsport idol. “I love the excitement of the double file starts and restarts and I’m really looking forward to starting the season with Race Art Technology.” By focusing on one division in 2023, Cappelli is looking to compete for the Legend Trophy win and also make a mark in the overall standings. An overall podium finish that he achieved at Circuit Zolder last year proved that the 48-year-old has what it takes to make his way to the top of the EuroNASCAR 2 standings.
Thomas Toffel to pull double duty for Race Art Technology in EuroNASCAR
Thomas Toffel will have a busy 2023 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season as he will be taking on both championships – EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR 2. The Fribourg native will drive the #34 car fielded by Swiss team Race Art Technology. The 31-year-old from Switzerland wants to maximize the results and become a regular front-runner in EuroNASCAR 2, while being in the mix for top-10 results in EuroNASCAR PRO.
“A top-5 finish in EuroNASCAR 2 and a top-15 finish in EuroNASCAR PRO are my goals for the 2023 season,” said Toffel, who will compete for the Rookie Trophy and Challenger Trophy next season. “I really love the Brands Hatch event with tens of thousands of fans watching the races and having a good time at the track with all the attractions. My strength at the wheel of a race car is my determination to overtake a competitor, even if I’m slower than him.”
With his roots in pocket bike racing, Toffel made the transition to auto racing by competing in touring cars and even Legends cars in the past. With his first full-time EuroNASCAR on the horizon, the 31-year-old is looking to take another big step in his racing career, which he is building alongside his job in the real estate business. The Swiss already made his NWES debut with Race Art Technology in the 2022 finals in Croatia.
With no racing background in his family, Toffel found his need for adrenaline when he started racing pocket bikes and it’s no surprise that he has a lot of respect for the career of MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi. Race Art Technology, a veteran NWES team based in Switzerland, will provide Toffel with a strong car to help the Fribourg native reach his full potential. The team will run two cars in the 2023 NWES season, but the #34 car will be dedicated exclusively to Toffel, except in the Club Challenge: Edouard Fatio, a friend of Toffel from Switzerland will drive the car in the NWES regularity test.
With four races, two qualifying sessions and four free practice sessions per weekend, the Swiss driver will have his work cut out for him when the season kicks off May 6-7 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. All races and qualifying sessions will be broadcast live on EuroNASCAR’s YouTube channel, Motorsport.tv and various TV services around the world. Toffel’s ambitious goals promise that the #34 car will be among the front runners, especially in EuroNASCAR 2.
