TCR-C2: Jean-Karl Vernay winner at Spa

As a preamble to the second round of WEC, the TCR International Series competitors put on a show on track at Spa in Belgium.

From the start, pole sitter Maxime Potty (Michaël Mazuin Sport – Volkswagen Golf GTi) was hit at the Source by Pepe Oriola (Craft-Bamboo Racing – SEAT Leon), himself pushed by Tom Coronel (Boutsen Ginion Racing – Honda Civic) .

Enough to give the lead of the race to Edouard Mondron (Delahaye Racing – Volkswagen Golf GTi) ahead of Rob Huff (Leopard Racing Team WRT – Volkswagen Golf GTi). The former WTCC world champion finds the opening on the Belgian driver, followed immediately by Benjamin Lessennes (Boutsen Ginion Racing – Honda Civic).

The Huff – Lessennes duo will then compete for first place, with contact between the two drivers at the Combes braking level, dropping Lessennes to fifth place behind Huff, Mondron, Jean-Karl Vernay (Leopard Racing Team WRT – Volkswagen Golf GTi) and Stefano Comini (Comtoyou Racing – Audi RS3), winner yesterday of the first Belgian round.

Vernay will make the decisive overtake a lap later also braking at Les Combes, passing by the outside of Huff and Mondron, to take control of the race and not let go until the finish.

The Frenchman beats his teammate Rob Huff for a double for the Leopard Racing Team WRT, while Stefano Comini finally got the better of Edouard Mondron for the last step of the podium.

Vernay thus widens the gap on Comini in the general classification with 91 points against 66 for the double reigning champion. The top 5 is completed by Benjamin Lessennes, who is ahead of Frédéric Vervisch (Comtoyou Racing – Audi RS3).

Hugo Valente (Craft-Bamboo Racing- SEAT Leon) was unsuccessful when he was hit at the Source at the start by the Honda Civic of Jens Moller.

Race 1 ranking

Find the report of the Spa event in TCR International Series, in issue 2113 of AUTOhebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version and from this Wednesday on newsstands.