Jean-Karl Vernay is looking to take advantage of consistency in the 2017 TCR International Series, with the Frenchman remaining in the same team and championship for the first time in eight years.
Vernay, who finished third overall in the 2016 championship, will be the sole car for the WRT-run Leopard Racing outfit in Georgia.
Despite having no team-mate to share data with, Vernay is optimistic ahead of the new season, having gained the experience he needed during 2016 in his switch to front-wheel drive racing.
“I know the team very well, we have a strong relationship and a great team spirit,” said Vernay to TouringCars.Net. “We know the car better, and I know front-wheel drive now as it’s my second season.
“It’s the first time in maybe seven or eight years that I’m doing the same programme for two years in a row. Before it was Formula 3, Indy Lights, LMP1, LMP2, Super GT, GT2 and GT3, so this is a big advantage for me. Now I know pretty much everything and I have to take advantage of it.”
Vernay also pointed to the fact that he often had the edge on eventual 2016 champion Stefano Comini in qualifying as one of the reasons why he is so optimistic for the coming season, provided he can exercise better race craft and judgement than in the previous season.
“Last year, which was a fantastic season, my team-mate was the champion but in qualifying I beat him eight times out of eleven. Performance-wise it was a good season from the beginning, but I had to learn how to race with all these guys in the pack.
“I had some clashes and I didn’t really know how to deal with that. Stefano was a good help, I learned from him lots about racing experiences.
“I think I could have been the champion already last year. Now I just have to be more consistent from the beginning. I have the experience from the mistakes I made, of racing with these guys, and I’m stronger.
“I had a chance to do a lot of testing during the winter and these are all the ingredients to have a good season. I know what I have to do – I’m by myself but it’s not a big deal.”
Vernay also expressed sympathy to former team-mate Comini about his struggles with Leopard during the off-season, although the Frenchman added that his longer association and better relationship may have been the reason why he got the drive for 2017 ahead of the Swiss racer.
“I think the goal was always to make a two-car team, but unfortunately I’m not the sponsor, so I can’t talk about that.
“Apparently, we didn’t have the money to field two cars and they had to make a choice, and they took me. Why me and not Stefano, I can’t respond to this question.
“Of course, I was happy, [but] I was a little bit sad for him; it’s never a situation you want to be in but in the end if they have to choose one driver then I want to be in the car.
“I’ve known them for a long time, so I have a really close relationship, you can’t compare it. That’s also why it was me.
“Nobody liked what happened, least of all me. I know [the feeling], as Peugeot cancelled everything before Sebring. I have a lot of disappointment in my career already, but it’s just one part of the job.”