Jean-Karl Vernay expects Hondas to be competitive

Jean-Karl Vernay finished the first practice session in Macau in fourth. The Frenchman spent most of the session working with team-mate Stefano Comini, trying to overcome the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR’s lack of straightline speed by using slipstreams.

“I am happy with this first contact with the track, although it is still very green”, said the Leopard Racing driver. “We knew we could expect the Honda cars being very competitive, they are probably the best cars, but the Golf did well and we have room for improvement.”

Vernay shares Comini’s views about the traffic issues, but accepts that it is in the nature of the Macau circuit: “There is a lot of traffic and I don’t think it was a good idea to allow gentlemen drivers to race, but that’s how it is in Macau, and we’ll have to live with the situation.”

Vernay still has a mathematical chance to win the title, coming in 39 points behind James Nash with 55 still to be had.