Jean-Karl "J. K." Vernay (born 31 October 1987) is a French professional racing driver. He was 2010 Indy Lights and 2017 TCR International Series champion. He has won races at the World Touring Car Cup, where he finished fifth in 2018 and won the WTCR Trophy in 2020.
Jean-Karl Vernay | |
---|---|
Vernay in 2009 | |
Nationality | ![]() |
Born | Villeurbanne (France) | 31 October 1987
Super GT (GT500) | |
Racing licence | ![]() |
Years active | 2014 |
Teams | Dome Racing |
Car number | 18 |
Previous series | |
2013 2012 2011 2010 2007-2009 2006-07 2006 2005 | FIA WEC (LMGTE Am) Porsche Carrera Cup France Formula Renault 3.5 Indy Lights F3 Euroseries A1 Grand Prix French Formula Renault 2.0 Formula Campus France |
Championship titles | |
2020 2018 2017 2012 2010 2005 | WTCR Trophy
TCR Benelux Series TCR International Series Porsche Carrera Cup France Indy Lights Formula Campus France |
Awards | |
2010 | Indy Lights Rookie of the Year |
Career history
editKarting
edit- 2000: 3rd in France Cadet Championship
- 2001: 5th in Speedy Junior World Cup at the Masters Karting Paris Bercy
- 2002: 2nd in Junior Monaco Kart Cup
- 2004: 2nd in Belgium Championship, Formula A and 21st in world championship, Formula A
Formula
editIn 2005, Villeurbanne-born Vernay drove in the French Formula Campus series and finished 1st with 6 wins and 12 podiums on 14 races. The following year, he finished runner-up and best rookies in the French Formula Renault Championship with 7 podiums.
He drove two rounds as race driver in the 2006-07 A1 Grand Prix season and the last round as practice session driver.
In 2007, Jean-Karl was selected to be part of the Red Bull Junior Team program that offers funding and support for promising young drivers. With Tom Dillmann, they were the first French drivers to take part in the programme. Vernay is still a part of the team, along with fellow Frenchman Jean-Éric Vergne.
The same year, he raced in the Formula Three Euroseries with Signature-Plus team finishing 10th. A second place was his best result, with another finish of 3rd in the non-championship Ultimate Masters of Formula 3 at Zolder behind Nico Hülkenberg and team-mate Yann Clairay.[1]
Vernay continued in the series in 2008, continuing with Signature-Plus. He ended up eighth in the championship, with 3 podiums coming at the Norisring, Brands Hatch and Le Mans. He also started his Brands Hatch podium race from pole position, thanks to the series' reverse grid system.
Vernay competed in a third season in 2009 for Signature, with team-mates Mika Mäki and Tiago Geronimi.[2] Vernay finally took his first win in the Euroseries, at the 42nd attempt, winning the sprint race at Hockenheim. He added a second win in the final race of the season, again at Hockenheim, passing Christopher Zanella on the final lap. At the season-ending Macau Grand Prix, Vernay set an outright lap record en route to a victory in the qualifying race, giving him pole position for the main event.[3] However, he lost out to Edoardo Mortara in the main race, after fluffing a gear shift.[citation needed]
Vernay has moved to the United States to race in the Firestone Indy Lights series in 2010 for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.[4] He won in his series debut on the Streets of St. Petersburg in a wet race.[5] He followed this up with another win at Barber Motorsports Park and a third-place finish at Long Beach, leaving him 28 points clear at the top of the standings after 3 rounds. Vernay went on to win four races that season and clinched the championship over James Hinchcliffe with one race to go, having to just start the final round.[citation needed]
Vernay is the first Indy Lights champion since 1996's David Empringham to not go on to compete in IndyCar.[citation needed]
Sports cars and touring cars
editIn 2011 Vernay was the test and reserve driver for Peugeot Sport, testing the Peugeot 908 on several occasions.[6]
In 2012, Vernay won the Porsche Carrera Cup France driving for Sébastien Loeb Racing. Vernay won the 24 Hours of Le Mans LMGTE Am class in 2013 while competing for IMSA Performance Matmut, driving a Porsche 997 GT3-RSR. He also contested in the full 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship season. In 2014, Vernay will drive for Weider Modulo Dome Racing in Super GT GT500 class.
In 2016, Vernay will drive a W Racing Team Volkswagen Golf at the TCR International Series.
Racing record
editCareer summary
edit† As Vernay was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points. ‡ Team standings. * Season still in progress.
Complete A1 Grand Prix results
edit(key)
Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006–07 | A1 Team France | NED SPR |
NED FEA |
CZE SPR |
CZE FEA |
CHN SPR |
CHN FEA |
MYS SPR |
MYS FEA |
IDN SPR |
IDN FEA |
NZL SPR |
NZL FEA |
AUS SPR |
AUS FEA |
RSA SPR |
RSA FEA |
MEX SPR Ret |
MEX FEA 20 |
CHN SPR Ret |
CHN FEA 8 |
GBR SPR PO |
GBR SPR PO |
4th | 67 |
Complete Formula 3 Euro Series results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Signature-Plus | Dallara F306/010 | Mercedes | HOC 1 7 |
HOC 2 4 |
BRH 1 16 |
BRH 2 12 |
NOR 1 5 |
NOR 2 Ret |
MAG 1 8 |
MAG 2 2 |
MUG 1 5 |
MUG 2 Ret |
ZAN 1 Ret |
ZAN 2 7 |
NÜR 1 12 |
NÜR 2 10 |
CAT 1 Ret |
CAT 2 Ret |
NOG 1 8 |
NOG 2 4 |
HOC 1 10 |
HOC 2 Ret |
10th | 23 |
2008 | Signature-Plus | Dallara F308/033 | Volkswagen | HOC 1 5 |
HOC 2 Ret |
MUG 1 25 |
MUG 2 Ret |
PAU 1 Ret |
PAU 2 14 |
NOR 1 3 |
NOR 2 4 |
ZAN 1 6 |
ZAN 2 4 |
NÜR 1 13 |
NÜR 2 7 |
BRH 1 8 |
BRH 2 2 |
CAT 1 17 |
CAT 2 11 |
BUG 1 5 |
BUG 2 3 |
HOC 1 5 |
HOC 2 4 |
8th | 35 |
2009 | Signature | Dallara F308 | Volkswagen | HOC 1 6 |
HOC 2 1 |
MUG 1 3 |
MUG 2 12 |
PAU 1 7 |
PAU 2 2 |
NOR 1 4 |
NOR 2 5 |
ZAN 1 6 |
ZAN 2 7 |
NÜR 1 6 |
NÜR 2 15 |
BRH 1 13 |
BRH 2 8 |
CAT 1 Ret |
CAT 2 14 |
DIJ 1 18 |
DIJ 2 Ret |
HOC 1 3 |
HOC 2 1 |
5th | 47 |
American open-wheel racing results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Indy Lights
editYear | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Rank | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Sam Schmidt Motorsports | STP 1 |
ALA 1 |
LBH 3 |
INDY 13 |
IOW 3 |
WGL 1 |
TOR 1 |
EDM 2 |
MDO 8 |
SNM 1 |
CHI 4 |
KTY 3 |
HMS 15 |
1st | 494 |
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
editYear | Entrant | Class | Car | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Rank | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Luxury Racing | LMGTE Pro | Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 | Ferrari F142 4.5 L V8 | SEB Ret |
SPA | LMS | SIL | SÃO | BHR | FUJ | SHA | NC | 0 |
2013 | IMSA Performance Matmut | LMGTE Am | Porsche 911 GT3 RSR | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | SIL 7 |
SPA 6 |
LMS 1 |
SÃO 4 |
COA 3 |
FUJ 5 |
SHA 2 |
BHR 6 |
3rd | 122 |
2024 | Isotta Fraschini | Hypercar | Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH-C | Isotta Fraschini 3.0 L Turbo V6 | QAT Ret |
IMO 17 |
SPA 15 |
LMS 13 |
SÃO Ret |
COA |
FUJ |
BHR |
29th* | 0* |
* Season still in progress.
Complete Porsche Supercup results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | MRS GT-Racing | ESP 12 |
MON 11 |
GBR 21 |
GER 11 |
HUN 11 |
BEL 14 |
ITA 9 |
UAE Ret |
UAE DSQ |
13th | 29 |
24 Hours of Le Mans results
editYear | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | IMSA Performance Matmut | Raymond Narac Christophe Bourret |
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR | LMGTE Am | 306 | 25th | 1st |
2024 | Isotta Fraschini | Carl Bennett Antonio Serravalle |
Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH-C | Hypercar | 302 | 14th | 14th |
Complete European Le Mans Series results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Team | Class | Car | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Rank | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | IMSA Performance Matmut | LMGTE | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | SIL | IMO | RBR 7 |
HUN 5 |
LEC 7 |
10th | 22 |
Complete Super GT results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | DC | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Dome Racing | Honda NSX-GT | GT500 | OKA 5 |
FUJ 10 |
AUT 7 |
SUG | FUJ | SUZ | BUR | MOT | 19th | 11 |
Complete TCR International Series results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Leopard Racing | Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR | BHR 1 Ret |
BHR 2 DSQ |
EST 1 2 |
EST 2 5 |
SPA 1 14 |
SPA 2 1 |
IMO 1 11 |
IMO 2 4 |
SAL 1 5 |
SAL 2 1 |
OSC 1 6 |
OSC 2 Ret |
SOC 1 5 |
SOC 2 2 |
CHA 1 5 |
CHA 2 8 |
MRN 1 1 |
MRN 2 6 |
SEP 1 5 |
SEP 2 5 |
MAC 1 2 |
MAC 2 2 |
3rd | 246 |
2017 | Leopard Racing Team WRT | Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR | RIM 1 6 |
RIM 2 3 |
BHR 1 3 |
BHR 2 4 |
SPA 1 4 |
SPA 2 1 |
MNZ 1 4 |
MNZ 2 5 |
SAL 1 17† |
SAL 2 DNS |
HUN 1 3 |
HUN 2 7 |
OSC 1 Ret |
OSC 2 3 |
CHA 1 4 |
CHA 2 5 |
ZHE 1 2 |
ZHE 2 12 |
DUB 1 3 |
DUB 2 15† |
1st | 226 |
† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 75% of the race distance.
Complete World Touring Car Cup results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR | MAR 1 4 |
MAR 2 1 |
MAR 3 9 |
HUN 1 8 |
HUN 2 10 |
HUN 3 10 |
GER 1 5 |
GER 2 7 |
GER 3 7 |
NED 1 5 |
NED 2 Ret |
NED 3 1 |
POR 1 5 |
POR 2 4 |
POR 3 10 |
SVK 1 2 |
SVK 2 Ret |
SVK 3 Ret |
CHN 1 Ret |
CHN 2 Ret |
CHN 3 12 |
WUH 1 1 |
WUH 2 5 |
WUH 3 15 |
JPN 1 6 |
JPN 2 13 |
JPN 3 10 |
MAC 1 1 |
MAC 2 Ret |
MAC 3 22† |
5th | 245 |
2019 | Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR | MAR 1 7 |
MAR 2 2 |
MAR 3 Ret |
HUN 1 4 |
HUN 2 2 |
HUN 3 10 |
SVK 1 4 |
SVK 2 12 |
SVK 3 Ret |
NED 1 22 |
NED 2 15 |
NED 3 25 |
GER 1 12 |
GER 2 9 |
GER 3 4 |
POR 1 DSQ |
POR 2 4 |
POR 3 DSQ |
CHN 1 16 |
CHN 2 10 |
CHN 3 Ret |
JPN 1 6 |
JPN 2 9 |
JPN 3 9 |
MAC 1 21 |
MAC 2 9 |
MAC 3 3 |
MAL 1 10 |
MAL 2 14 |
MAL 3 10 |
10th | 211 |
2020 | Team Mulsanne | Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR | BEL 1 5 |
BEL 2 7 |
GER 1 9 |
GER 2 6 |
SVK 1 3 |
SVK 2 14 |
SVK 3 4 |
HUN 1 9 |
HUN 2 3 |
HUN 3 5 |
ESP 1 1 |
ESP 2 Ret |
ESP 3 6 |
ARA 1 8 |
ARA 2 2 |
ARA 3 3 |
3rd | 194 | ||||||||||||||
2021 | Engstler Hyundai N Liqui Moly Racing Team | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | GER 1 10 |
GER 2 1 |
POR 1 Ret |
POR 2 2 |
ESP 1 9 |
ESP 2 4 |
HUN 1 14 |
HUN 2 13 |
CZE 1 6 |
CZE 2 14 |
FRA 1 6 |
FRA 2 1 |
ITA 1 14 |
ITA 2 19 |
RUS 1 2 |
RUS 2 5 |
3rd | 177 |
† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
Complete TCR Europe Touring Car Series results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Leopard Lukoil Team WRT | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR | LEC 1 6 |
LEC 2 2 |
ZAN 1 |
ZAN 2 |
SPA 1 1 |
SPA 2 Ret |
HUN 1 7 |
HUN 2 20 |
ASS 1 2 |
ASS 2 7 |
MNZ 1 1 |
MNZ 2 1 |
CAT 1 6 |
CAT 2 7 |
2nd | 159 |
References
edit- ^ "Hülkenberg wins F3 Masters as Grosjean stalls". MaximumMotorsport.co.uk. 2007. Archived from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
- ^ "Vernay stays at Signature in Euro F3". autosport.com. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
- ^ Thomas, Stella-Maria; Waite, Lynne (21 November 2009). "Vernay wins caution plagued Macau qualification race". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
- ^ Sam Schmidt Motorsports signs JK Vernay Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine, Sam Schmidt Motorsports PR via Motorsport.com, February 22, 2010, Retrieved 2010-02-22
- ^ Vernay Wins Wild St. Pete Season-Opener Archived 2011-07-10 at the Wayback Machine, eFormulaCarNews, March 28, 2010, retrieved 2010-03-28
- ^ "Vernay becomes Peugeot reserve". 22 April 2011.
External links
edit- Personal web site jkvernay.com
- Jean-Karl Vernay career summary at DriverDB.com
- Signature Team web site Archived 2007-11-09 at the Wayback Machine signature-team.com
- Red Bull Junior Team 2007 redbull-juniorteam.com
- A1GP Driver Statistics results.a1gp.com