CONCORD, N.C.: Team Hezeberg announced Saturday morning at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway that they are forming a NASCAR Cup Series team set to compete in a limited schedule next season with drivers Loris Hezemans and Jacques Villeneuve.
The team will be sponsored by Europe-based company Hezeberg Systems, but will be operated in the United States by Reaume Brothers Racing.
The team which will be housed at Reaume Brothers Racing’s Mooresville, N.C.-based shop intends to compete on all the road courses next year, while hopeful to expand to a few short tracks.
Team Hezeberg powered by Reaume Brothers Racing would like to compete full-time operation in 2023, but adequate sponsorship would need to be obtained.
Hezemans, 24, is a NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion with seven career victories overall. He has also competed in three NASCAR Xfinity Series races and is scheduled to compete in Saturday afternoon’s Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL.
A native of the Netherlands, he is ready to embrace his biggest journey yet in 2022.
“Words cannot describe how much of an honor it is to have this opportunity in the NASCAR Cup Series,” said Hezemans. “I remember my excitement about seeing the prototype of the Next Gen car in 2019 after the NASCAR awards ceremony. Now, two years later, having the opportunity to make my NASCAR Cup series debut the feeling is unreal.”
Team Hezeberg will officially hit the track in the upcoming Next Gen test at the Charlotte ROVAL next week. Both Hezemans and Villeneuve will share the driving duties during the two-day test aboard the No. 27 Hezeberg Systems Ford Mustang.
“A huge thanks to NASCAR for preparing me for this upcoming test,” added Hezemans.
Former Formula 1 champion Villeneuve will return to the NASCAR scene for the first time since 2013.
From 2007 to 2013, the 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner made 20 NASCAR National Series starts – four of them in the NASCAR Cup Series for Bill Davis Racing.
Villeneuve is a Formula 1 champion (1997) who boasts 11 F1 wins in addition to an Indianapolis 500 victory (1995). From 2007 to 2013, Villeneuve made 20 NASCAR National Series starts, including four starts in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Despite the sabbatical from NASCAR competition, Villeneuve is feeling enthusiastic.
“I am very enthusiastic about the opportunity to get back to the states to drive in NASCAR,” he said. “Joining Team Hezeberg Powered by Reaume Bros. and Loris in discovering the new NEXT Gen 7 cup car is very exciting.
“The years of experience in different forms of racing will be useful in working with the team and understanding the new car. Loris comes from a great racing family on top of his own successes. Racing him in Euro NASCAR has been fun and working together will be a good challenge.”
Josh Reaume, team principal of Reaume Brothers Racing says the Next Gen is a perfect time for new teams to join the series, because everyone will be on the same page.
“We really felt like running with Ford and Roush-Yates gave us the opportunity to go out and compete right off the jump,” Reaume sounded.
“For a new team, sometimes it’s tough to get these things off the ground. But everyone involved has been great in helping RBR and the guys at the shop to make sure our number 27 machine will be ready to rock at the ROVAL.
It’s a great time to get involved with the Cup Series because everyone is starting over. This new car, it’s a wildcard in the sense that no one knows a whole lot about it yet.”
In addition to the ROVAL Next Gen, the organization is hopeful to participate in the two-day test at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway in mid-December.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
