The American exile of Jean-Karl Vernay

In 2009 Jean-Karl Vernay had his best season in the peloton of F3 Euro Series. Fifth in the championship, with two victories under his belt, and best VW driver, the tricolor was especially noticed thanks to a most breathtaking performance during the legendary Macau GP, the Mecca of F3.

But after three seasons spent roaming the paddocks of the European Formula 3 championship, it was in the United States that the young Frenchman decided to continue his career. Like what his compatriots Sébastien did a few years ago Bourdais et simon pagenaud. The Champcar no longer exists, it is in Indy Lights that the former driver Red Bull will run this season, a championship which isIndyCar what the GP2 is about Formula 1.

“We first went to the Miami-Homestead oval, declares Jean-Karl Vernay. Then, without trying too hard to change my European habits and my driving style, I set the category record on the Palm Beach road circuit. A few days later, I signed with the Sam Schmidt Motorsport team. There car of Indy Lights is about twice as powerful as a Formula 3 car. On a speedway, we go at 190 miles per hour (more than 300 km/h). We ask ourselves questions during the first fifteen laps, and then we go all out. Finding the best speed is a fairly subtle exercise, you have to go close to the walls, but I think the most complicated thing is managing the race in a peloton. »

At 22 years old, the Villeurbanne resident hopes that this exile in the country of Uncle Sam will prove rich in victories in order, why not, to join as quickly as possible the major single-seater championship across the Atlantic in which drivers of the caliber of Dario Franchitti, Ryan Briscoe, Tony Kanaan or even Helio Castroneves. The season begins on March 28 on the streets of St. Petersburg.