European Late Model Series

ELMSBorn in 2009 it's a new European oval-based, american stock car series resulting of the merge between two established European stock car championships, the British SCSA V8 Trophy, also known as ASCAR, and the Belgium CAMSO V8 Cup.

Open to any North American stock car the championship follows performance-equalising guidelines to allow former ASCARs to race alongside CAMSO V8s. The series will benefit of TV coverage in mainland Europe and the UK.

It was designed to bring the ideals of American stock car racing to Europe: entertainment for the fans and the drivers alike, a multi-format media offensive to ensure teams and their marketing partners get top value for money and fast, high-power race cars with real presence that are cheap to buy, run and maintain.

The aim is to become the European counterpart of NASCAR in a time when fans of this kind of motorsport are growing in Europe, a fact proven by the growing number of live transmissions of NASCAR races in the European TV channels.

What is a Late Model?

A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model.

The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."

There is no precise definition. According the Michigan Department of Motor Vehicles, a late-model vehicle is defined as:

  • A vehicle 8,000 pounds or less manufactured in one of the last six model years, or
  • A vehicle 8,001 pounds or more manufactured in one of the last 16 model years.

Late Model racing is the highest level of stockcar racing run by most oval track organisations in the USA. There are many varieties, all with very significant differences. Some classes of Late Models race on dirt, some race on asphalt. They vary in performance too; some classes have unlimited engines and some use the conventional Pinto four cylinder engine found in most UK stockcars. The majority of Late Model formulae require the use of a V8 crate engine, as found in the CAMSO Late Models of Belgium.

Asphalt Late Model racing is a common stepping-stone for drivers on their way to the top echelons of NASCAR racing. NASCAR has its own touring and regional Late Model championships for drivers to progress through on their way to Craftsman Truck Series, Nationwide Series or the Sprint Cup.

European Late Models
Almost any American stockcar can compete in the new European Late Model Series. The Series technical committee has a range of performance-limiting augmentations to impose on cars in order to create an even playing field.


Chassis:

All chassis must be approved by the European Late Model Series. Current approved chassis include Howe, Lefthander and Tanner. To seek approval for another chassis manufacturer, please contact the European Late Model Series.


Engines:

Only V8s need apply here! The current cars racing in the series use Chevrolet engines.


Tyres:

To help control cost, the European Late Model Series uses control racing slick tyres. The amount of tyres a team can purchase for the season is limited.


Body types:

Only approved American stockcar body types are allowed.