Golf GTI TCR triumphs again: Vernay wins in Austria, Comini moves to the top of the table
Another victory for the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR: On the fifth race weekend of the TCR International Series, Jean-Karl Vernay (F) of Volkswagen customer team Leopard Racing won the second race at the Salzburgring (A). Vernay's team-mate Stefano Comini (CH), who recently won with the 330 hp touring car from Wolfsburg in Imola (I), also made it onto the podium in third place. Remarkably, in pouring rain on the 4.241-kilometre racetrack, Vernay worked his way up from seventh on the grid into first place. In the first race, Vernay experienced difficulties in dry conditions: The Frenchman started from pole position, but dropped down the field and finished the race as the best Volkswagen driver in fifth place.
Team-mate Comini finished eighth, Davit Kajaia (GE) and debutant Florian Janits (A) of Engstler Motorsport were ranked seventh and ninth. Victory went to Mikhail Grachev (RUS, Honda). With his overall haul of 19 points from the Salzburgring weekend, Comini now moves into first place in the drivers' standings with 120 points. Vernay (107 points) moved up into fourth place.
The next race weekend is on 18 and 19 June, when the TCR International Series will compete alongside the TCR Germany in Oschersleben (D).
Tanner Foust (USA) finished on the podium at the third event in the Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC). The American from the Andretti Autosport team finished third in Dallas (USA), his team-mate Scott Speed (USA) finished fourth. However, both drivers missed out on better positions: Foust and Speed started the finale in first and second place, but both of them dropped down two positions on the first turn, and then had to battle with traffic. The win ended up going to Patrik Sandell (S, Ford), Steve Arpin (CDN, Ford) finished second. Until the finale, it was a perfect weekend for the 560 hp Volkswagen Beetle GRC and the two drivers: Foust and Speed each won their heats and the semi-final races. Foust, who won both races at the season opener in Phoenix (USA), still leads the drivers' standings after his third place. Rallycross will be back in action on 18 and 19 June, when the GRC elite contest a "double header" at Daytona Beach (USA).
Engen Volkswagen Cup South AfricaLiebenberg, La Reservee and Shorter win in Port Elizabeth
Three winners at the third race weekend of the Engen Volkswagen Cup South Africa: At the Aldo Scribante Race Circuit (ZA), the 17-year-old South African Bradley Liebenberg as well as Shaun La Reservee (ZA) and Chris Shorter (ZA) each won one race. In the first race on the 2.480-kilometre racetrack near Port Elizabeth, Liebenberg won ahead of Chris Shorter (ZA) and Keagan Masters (ZA) after eight laps. In the second race it was La Reservee who triumphed, after winning at the Killarney Motor Racing Circuit (ZA) at the last race weekend. Masters and Juan Gerber (ZA) finished in second and third in the second race in Port Elizabeth. Race three went to Shorter, who crossed the finish line with an advantage of 0.245 seconds over Liebenberg. Masters finished third in this race. The next races will be held at the Prince George Circuit in East London (ZA) on 09 July.
Next up:
09/06–12/06/2016FIA World Rally Championship, Italy
10/06–12/06/2016FIA World Rallycross Championship, Hell (N)
10/06–12/06/2016TCR Asia, Buriram United International Circuit (T)
10/06–12/06/2016TCR Portugal, Circuito de Vila Real (P)
11/06–12/06/2016Volkswagen Racing Cup UK, Silverstone (GB)
11/06/2016Volkswagen Fun Cup UK, Snetterton (GB)
11/06/2016Volkswagen Fun Cup France, Magny-Cours (F)
