Jean-Karl Vernay dominates Qualifying at Monza

The Leopard Lukoil Team Audi RS3 LMS of Jean-Karl Vernay will start the TCR Europe Race 1 at Monza from pole position after going fastest in both stages of Qualifying. Vernay, in fact, was the only driver to beat the 1:58 barrier in both sessions, with Mikel Azcona also beating the benchmark in Q2 and so the PCR Sport Cupra will start alongside Vernay on the grid.
Scoring four Qualifying points, the Spaniard moved up to the top of the standings, two points clear of Dušan Borković.
Behind the pair will be the two Hell Energy Racing with KCMG Honda Civic cars of Attila Tassi and Josh Files, with Row 3 of the grid consisting of the Comtoyou Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI of Maxime Potty and the Target Competition Hyundai i30 N of Borković. Thanks to the reverse grid for Race 2, the Sports & You Peugeot 308 of Francisco Abreu will start from pole.
Daniel Nagy, the winner of Race 1 at Assen – and currently in third place in the standings – failed to go through to Q2 and so will start both races way behind his rivals for the title, while Vernay’s strong showing in Qualifying and both of yesterday’s Free Practice sessions suggest that the reigning TCR International champion will move himself back into contention for the 2018 TCR Europe crown following this weekend.
There were few problems during the two sessions, although the Subaru WRX STI of Roberto Russo didn’t take part in Qualifying and Q1 was red-flagged when the sister car of Cosimo Barberini went off the track at the first Lesmo corner and had to be recovered.
Race 1 will start at 17:35 CET (live streaming at www.tcr-series.com and www.tcr-series.tv).