NASCAR's Euro division kicks off 2017 with test in Italy

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series competitors test at Autodromo di Franciacorta to prepare for 2017 season.

Alex Caffi, Alex Caffi Motorsports, Ford

Gianmarco Ercoli, Alex Caffi and Alon Day

Despite the cool weather drivers, teams and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series officials were on hand Friday at Autodromo di Franciacorta for the preseason Prologue.

20 drivers from 11 teams took turns navigating the 13-turn 2.519 kilometer (1.57 mile) road course throughout the day Friday after series president Jerome Galpan and other NASCAR Whelen Series and facility officials met with the drivers.

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series President and owner Jerome Galpin was pleased with the participation and results of the preseason test.

"The Prologue is a new event in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series history and everything went really well," said Galpin. "We nearly have 50% of the field with 13 cars involved. It was a great opportunity to present the European NASCAR to a large group of journalists and for teams and drivers to hit the track six weeks before the season opener in Valencia. Franciacorta was the perfect track for this event and we would like to thank Mr. Ettore Bonara and his team for this opportunity. The 2017 season is on the way and I can’t wait to be in Valencia !"

Among the drivers participating was Alon Day, who just announced last month he'll return to the series driving for CAAL Racing to compete for the 2017 series championship.

"It was a great day for me and also for the team, being back in the car after a long winter break feels so good and specially with the team and people I know the best," Day said. "Franciacorta is a great track with some very challenging corners to drive and specially overtaking is going to be a hard task. I'm sure when the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will visit the track in September we are going to have some good fights as this track is technical and narrow."

The day featured a mixture of weather with rain showers and cool temperatures in the afternoon allowing for drivers and teams an opportunity to test on dry and wet course conditions.

The new season gets underway in a little over a month from now in Valencia, Spain on the 14-turn 4.005 kilometer (2.517 mile) road course at Ricardo Tormo.