Jean-Karl Vernay ‘needed to score points’ in Portugal

Jean-Karl Vernay came second in today’s first race at Estoril, Portugal, achieving the best result of the season for Leopard Racing in his Volkswagen Golf Gti TCR.

The Frenchman came home ahead of team-mate Stefano Comini, thus making it a great day for the Belgian squad so far: “We achieved the best possible result for us, I don’t think we could have gone any better than this. I had a good start but the wheelspin prevented me from fighting with Gianni (Morbidelli) and (Mat’o) Homola. The key was to take care of the tyres, I never pushed to the maximum because I wanted to save my rubber for later in the race to take the opportunities, and it happened.”

A piece of debris hit the Frenchman’s windscreen, causing glass to break into the cockpit: “At one points Morbidelli and Homola made contact and a piece flew straight into my windscreen. The glass was broken and I had little pieces flying in the cockpit and on my face, I closed the visor to make sure my eyes would stay clean. My visor was so dark I couldn’t really see properly, but I still managed to have some good fights, which I like.”

During the fight between Morbidelli and Homola, the Leopard Racing driver even tried to overtake the WestCoast Racing Honda, but he preferred not to take too many risks and gladly settled for second: “I tried to go on the inside of Gianni, but I didn’t want to take too many risks, I already came away from Bahrain with no points, so I needed to score. The car was great and the team really did a good job, as Stefano (Comini)’s podium testifies.”

When asked how he was able to overtake Homola in just a handful of corners, whereas it took Morbidelli several laps to pass the SEAT, Vernay has a clear explanation: “I think Gianni took no risks, I was behind and I was the first spectator. I have a bit of experience now and I figured it was the great moment to overtake, I had a crazy duck behind me (team-mate Comini) so I had to be quick to make sure he didn’t pass me and avoid a big fight which I don’t know how might have ended. I didn’t want to be involved in a three-way fight. It was a good idea to take a bit of risks because Homola was struggling with the tyres quite a lot and I needed to get through. I knew I would be able to open a gap in a couple of corners and be safe after that.”

Vernay scored his first race points today, although his third place on the grid yesterday earned him a further three points, bringing his total up to 21 from zero scored in Bahrain at the season opener.