Jean-Karl Vernay has slammed Stefano Comini’s driving in the second TCR International Series race in China, with the Leopard Racing driver also describing some of the driving as being ‘unprofessional’.
Vernay was battling with Comini for position early on in race two at the Zhejiang International Circuit when the Audi of Comini and the Volkswagen of Vernay made contact at the Turn 13 hairpin on the opening lap.
Vernay had to take to the escape road after the contact, and ultimately finished the race outside the top ten after having to pit for fresh rubber after rubbing bodywork damaged his tyre.
“Stefano hit me maybe six times – for sure he just wanted to put me out,” said Vernay to TouringCars.Net. “Because he pushed me so many times, put me wide and put me nearly in the wall on the exit of the hairpin, he also just turned into me.
“I don’t want to speak about it, it’s pretty obvious to everyone in the videos.
“This is the problem of this championship – we need to get it more professional. This kind of stuff should not happen.
“OK, you are frustrated and your car is not working well, but why do you have to push me, for what? Why do I deserve that? When I was behind again, I didn’t push him. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Vernay leaves China with a 21-point advantage at the head of the drivers’ championship standings, but he wasn’t happy about the results as he could have left with an even bigger lead but for the race two contact.
“Of course, I am in a good position, but right now I am not happy because it should have been better. We did a really good job in qualifying and race one, I did the race by myself and I’m happy about that.
“In race two, like I said, I like fighting with Rob [Huff], Gabriele [Tarquini] and James [Nash], even Pepe [Oriola], it’s proper racing with these guys, but then in race two you just arrive and get hit like twenty times and put in the wall because he [Comini] is frustrated – it’s not what I want to do.”