French masterclass

Audi Sport driver, Jean-Karl Vernay has stamped his authority all over the first race of this weekend’s TCR Australia round at Queensland Raceway. There was nothing but daylight between the Frenchman and the opposition, taking pole position and then going on to deliver an absolute masterclass in the race, leading from the start and setting the fastest race lap in the process.

Driving the very Audi RS 3 LMS car that Garth Tander took to victory in the last round at The Bend in South Australia, Vernay was unstoppable from the start, extending his lead with each lap to finish 7.2 seconds ahead of his nearest opposition.

The Melbourne Performance Centre prepared car was faultless, and Vernay praised the work of the team after the the race. 

Securing another podium for Audi and MPC, Russel Ingall reprised his place in the #100 RS 3 LMS from round 3 and used his tremendous experience and knowledge of the Queensland circuit to hunt down the opposition and claim another podium for the brand.

Leanne Tander in her third TCR outing wasn’t so lucky, starting well back on the grid shoe fought her way through but after contact at the mid point in the race, was unable to mount a serious assault.

At the pointy end of the race though it was all Audi and Vernay. Although the international star only arrived in Australia on Thursday, he quickly learned the circuit, and with his experience in TCR and the Audi RS 3 LMS, was on the pace right from the start.

“I’ve always wanted to come to Australia to see the country and to race,” Vernay said on his arrival. And while this will be a whirlwind visit for the Audi Sport driver, he has certainly made his presence felt so far.

All eyes will now be on the two races on Sunday to see if Vernay can build on today’s performance. Given his finish today and the fact that drivers will start tomorrow's first race in the positions they finished today, the French driver will be tough to beat on Sunday.

Both races will be televised live on SBS.