Leopard Lukoil Team’s Jean-Karl Vernay explains that problems with his brakes caused the contact at the Bus Stop chicane with Julien Briché in race two of TCR Europe at Spa-Francorchamps.
The race-one winner had progressed from tenth on the grid to fourth, but was then hindered by a braking issue which meant he cut the Bus Stop chicane, before making contact with Briché at the same point a lap later.
The 2017 TCR International Champion told TouringCars.Net he was disappointed with not scoring any points, but glad it did not end Briché’s race.
“Everything was going well, it’s too bad that we couldn’t finish the race I just had a braking issue and I had nowhere to go, I couldn’t avoid contact with Julien [Briché], hopefully I didn’t destroy his race.
“I’m quite disappointed because we were having a very good weekend until that point.
“I arrived [at the Bus Stop] I didn’t want to overtake or anything I was quite far away from the other guys, I just braked and suddenly I had nothing and couldn’t avoid the guys in front of me. I couldn’t cross the track or go outside as I was inside and I couldn’t do anything about it. It’s not like I tried something stupid on purpose.”
After the race, the contact was under investigation, but no further action has been taken as Vernay explained the cause of the incident to the race director.
Vernay had hoped to score solid points to make up for missing the last round at Zandvoort as he competed in the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR), but hopes he can make up for it with good results in at the next round in Hungary.
“For sure it’s not going to be as easy as here – I mean it was not easy here but we knew that we would have a competitive car – but I will try 100% for myself, for the team, for my sponsors and for Audi.”