WestCoast Racing are still far from their ‘reference point’ of Jean-Karl Vernay according to Team Manager James Nixon, after Giacomo Altoè scored the team’s best result of the season with fourth in Hungary.
The team managed to get both of their Volkswagen Golf GTi cars into the top ten for only the second time this season on Saturday, with Gianni Morbidelli and Altoè also securing prime positions for the reverse-grid second race.
It was that second race which saw the team produce its best performance of the season so far, with Altoè finishing in fourth, having led the early stages of the race.
Morbidelli fared less well, retiring from race two after having finished just behind his team-mate in ninth in race one.
“We are still far from our reference point in the Volkswagen, which we consider to be Jean Karl Vernay, who, having watched him again this week sets a strong reference point,” said Nixon. “I consider him to probably be the best driver in the series.
“Our cars are the same so together our drivers and the team need to work harder to improve and bring ourselves nearer still to finish the season on a strong and positive note.”
Nixon praised Altoè for his drive in race two, which saw the 16-year-old only just miss out on a maiden podium finish.
“He drove very well today and his chance to fight for victories will soon come,” added Altoè. “He learned a lot about becoming a great race driver from being in the mix at the front in race two and despite being apprehensive ahead of the front row start performed admirably.”