Jean Karl Vernay “aiming higher” with Team Engstler
Jean-Karl Vernay returns for a fourth season in the WTCR having switched to Team Engstler and the new Hyundai Elantra N.
The Frenchman, who finished third in the series last season with Romeo Ferraris, is looking at improving his results and will face a busy 2021 with Hyundai; running as an official driver in PURE ETCR for the manufacturer, as well as participating in the WTCR.
“I have been very busy since February,” he told TouringCarTimes. “There has been a lot of training and testing, with a lot of track time. But we are working for the factory, so we are following a programme and I’m focussed on giving my best.”
The Frenchman won the TCR International Series title in 2017, and moved in the WTCR since the following season; continuing to improve in the seasons that have followed.
“Three years ago I was fifth in the championship, last year I was third and, so the aim is to go higher,” the 33-year old stated. “But, with the new Elantra, the situation is very new to me.
“So the target is to be fast, score podiums and see where we are in the championship, but we are racing for Hyundai.”
The Team Engstler driver, together with his team-mate Luca Engstler, will have a double programme this weekend, as the pair will share a Hyundai i30 N TCR with Hendrik Still for the Nürburgring 24 Hours, but Vernay doesn’t think it will improve his chances in the WTCR.
“It’s a different race, strategy and tyres, so it will be busy and exciting, but we won’t be able to take things from the 24-hour race to help,” concluded JK.
