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| Jean-Karl Vernay | |
|---|---|
 Vernay in 2009 | |
| Nationality |  French |
| Born | (1987-10-31)31 October 1987 (age 38) Villeurbanne (France) |
| Super GT (GT500) | |
| Racing licence |  FIA Platinum |
| 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 |
Jean-Karl "J. K." Vernay (born 31 October 1987) is a French professional racing driver. He was 2010Indy Lights and 2017TCR International Series champion. He has won races at theWorld Touring Car Cup, where he finished fifth in 2018 and won the WTCR Trophy in 2020.
In 2005,Villeurbanne-born Vernay drove in the FrenchFormula Campus series and finished first with six wins and twelve podiums on fourteen races. The following year, he finished runner-up and best rookies in theFrench Formula Renault Championship with seven podiums.
Vernay drove two rounds as race driver in the2006-07 A1 Grand Prix season and the last round as practice session driver.
In 2007, Vernay was selected to be part of theRed Bull Junior Team program that offers funding and support for promising young drivers. WithTom Dillmann, they were the first French drivers to take part in the programme. Vernay is still a part of the team, along with fellow FrenchmanJean-Éric Vergne.
The same year, he raced in theFormula Three Euroseries with Signature-Plus team finishing tenth. A second place was his best result, with another finish of hird in the non-championshipUltimate Masters of Formula 3 atZolder behindNico Hülkenberg and team-mateYann Clairay.[1]
Vernay continued in the series in2008, continuing with Signature-Plus. He ended up eighth in the championship, with three podiums coming at theNorisring,Brands Hatch andLe 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 in2009 for Signature, with team-matesMika Mäki and Tiago Geronimi.[2] Vernay finally took his first win in the Euroseries, at the 42nd attempt, winning the sprint race atHockenheim. He added a second win in the final race of the season, again at Hockenheim, passing Christopher Zanella on the final lap. At theseason-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 toEdoardo Mortara in the main race, after fluffing a gear shift.[citation needed]
Vernay has moved to the United States to race in theFirestone Indy Lights series in2010 forSam Schmidt Motorsports.[4] He won in his series debut on theStreets of St. Petersburg in a wet race.[5] He followed this up with another win atBarber Motorsports Park and a third-place finish atLong 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 overJames Hinchcliffe with one race to go, having to just start the final round.[citation needed]
Vernay is the first Indy Lights champion since 1996'sDavid Empringham to not go on to compete inIndyCar.[citation needed]
In 2011, Vernay was the test and reserve driver for Peugeot Sport, testing thePeugeot 908 on several occasions.[6]
In 2012, Vernay won thePorsche Carrera Cup France driving forSébastien Loeb Racing. Vernay won the24 Hours of Le Mans LMGTE Am class in 2013 while competing forIMSA Performance Matmut, driving aPorsche 997 GT3-RSR. He also contested in the full2013 FIA World Endurance Championship season. In 2014, Vernay will drive for Weider ModuloDome Racing inSuper GT GT500 class.
In 2016, Vernay would drive aW Racing TeamVolkswagen Golf at theTCR International Series.
† As Vernay was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.‡ Team standings.
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position; races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | SG Formula | ZOL 1 | ZOL 2 | IST 1 | IST 2 | MIS 1 | MIS 2 | NÜR 1 8 | NÜR 2 7 | DON 1 | DON 2 | LMS 1 | LMS 2 | CAT 1 | CAT 2 | NC† | 0 |
Source:[8] | |||||||||||||||||
† As Vernay was a guest driver he was ineligible for points
(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 | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | 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 | [9] |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics 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 |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sam Schmidt Motorsports | STP 1 | ALA 1 | LBH 3 | INDY 13 | IOW 3 | WGL 1 | TOR 1 | EDM 2 | MOH 8 | SNM 1 | CHI 4 | KTY 3 | HMS 15 | 1st | 494 | [11] |
| Year | 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 14 | SÃO Ret | COA | FUJ | BHR | 33rd | 0 |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | MRS GT-Racing | ESP 12 | MON 11 | GBR 21 | GER 11 | HUN 11 | BEL 14 | ITA 9 | UAE Ret | UAE DSQ | 13th | 29 | [12] |
| Year | 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 |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics 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 |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics 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 |
Source:[8] | |||||||||||||
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics 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 | ||
Source:[14] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 75% of the race distance.
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics 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.
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics 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 11 | SPA 2 Ret | HUN 1 7 | HUN 2 20 | ASS 1 22 | ASS 2 7 | MNZ 1 11 | MNZ 2 1 | CAT 1 6 | CAT 2 7 | 2nd | 159 |
Source:[14] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Formula Campus Champion 2005 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Indy Lights Champion 2010 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Porsche Carrera Cup France Champion 2012 | Succeeded by Gael Castelli |
| Preceded by | TCR International Series Champion 2017 | Succeeded by Gabriele Tarquini (WTCR) |
| Preceded by | TCR BeNeLux Touring Car Championship Champion 2018 | Succeeded by Julien Briché |
| Preceded by Inaugural | WTCR Trophy Champion 2020 | Succeeded by |
Headquarters:Indianapolis,Indiana | |
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