Super GT – Jean-Karl Vernay testing with Honda

If, within an MRS GT-Racing team far from being a reference, he did not obtain the expected results in Porsche Supercup, Jean-Karl Vernay nevertheless won his fourth title in four years in 2013. Last June, in the company of Raymond Narac and Christophe Bourret, the native of Villeurbanne actually triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTE Am category on the team's Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Imsa Matmut performance. And this after having been titled in Indy Lights in 2010, contributed to the coronation gleaned in ILMC by Signatech Nissan in the LM P2 category in 2011 and taken the champion's crown in Porsche Carrera Cup France last year.

Boasting a burst of speed that is beyond doubt, the 26-year-old Frenchman, reservist Peugeot Sport in 2011, now seems to be eyeing Japan. A few days after resuming contact with Sébastien's Oreca 03 Loeb Racing on the Navarra circuit, in Spain, Jean-Karl flew to the Japanese archipelago, and more precisely to the Okayama circuit.

Since yesterday and until tomorrow, he has been carrying out tests there on behalf of Honda, at the wheel of the HSV-010 GT, with the aim of competing in the very tough Super GT next year. The Italians Vitantonio Liuzzi and Marco Bonanomi (Audi driver in Endurance), as well as locals Hideki Mutoh and Kousuke Matsuura, are also present. In short, great people.

But we can bet that “JK” will be able to stand out, he who would welcome joining this line of Frenchmen who made the heyday of Super GT. And all the more so since the only French rider present in 2013, in this case Frédéric Makowiecki, has just joined the ranks of the official GT Porsche drivers. And to find traces of a Super GT edition without the slightest Frenchman, we have to go back to? 1994, second year of existence of the series.