Photo:

Jean-Karl Vernay targeting podium after problematic qualifying

By

Team WRT’s Jean-Karl Vernay was surprised as many with Davit Kajaia’s qualifying pace in the GE-Force Alfa at Rustavi, and reckons the Georgian and Zele Racing’s Ferenc Ficza will be hard to catch on Sunday.

Vernay qualified in fourth position, behind Kajaia, Attila Tassi and Ficza, nine-tenths off Kajaia’s pace, and was the best-placed of the three Volkswagen Golfs.

“I’m really happy for Kajaia as it’s his home race,” said Vernay to TouringCarTimes. “I think he’s a good driver, but the gap is a little bit too big. (As for Tassi), we knew that the Honda is really quick. Apparently, they weren’t really quick during the BoP days, the team that run the Honda is really good, so we knew that they were going to be contenders.

“The other Hungarian I didn’t know, but for him to be so fast compared to the Lukoil cars, he has been really impressive.”

Vernay says the team struggled in qualifying with a problem with the right upright, which may have cost them some time but not enough to make a significant difference to their grid position.

“In qualifying we were struggling a little bit with the set up. I think we broke something on the front-right, so the car was perfect on the right corners but it was terrible on the lefts.

“I think maybe we could have done P3, but that was the maximum. I’m quite happy with qualifying, we’re in front of Lukoil (Craft-Bamboo), Stefano (Comini) and (Roberto) Colciago, so I think we did a good job.

“(Tomorrow) I think we can make the podium. Tassi, although he’s quick, he’s still young and so might make some mistakes, but behind me there’s some crazy dog, Stefano – he’s really quick on the straights, so I need to fight hard to keep him behind. I think it’ll be tough between Tassi, Colciago, Stefano and myself, but I think Ficza in the SEAT and Kajaia will be too quick.”