TCR Europe: Two wins for Vernay at Monza, title fight heats up

Jean-Karl Vernay (Leopard Lukoil Team WRT) has won both races of the TCR Europe Series meeting at Monza. In the sixth and the penultimate round of the season, the Frenchman in the #69 Audi RS3 LMS scored his second and third win of the season, making a big step up in the championship battle and progressing to the second place in the standings.

Before Monza’s round, Dušan Borković (Target Competition, Hyundai i30 N TCR) and Mikel Azcona (PCR Sport, Cupra Leon TCR) were leading the championship with just two-point gap between them. Azcona finished second in the first race and Borković was fifth.

Dusan Borkovic’s moment from Race 2 at Monza

In the second race, which Vernay won ahead of Josh Files and Attila Tassi. Borković had a contact with Benjamin Lessenness early in the race and then also with Azcona. As a result of those contacts, Borković retired with a punctured tire on his Hyundai. After the race, someone from Azcona’s team argued with Borković and allegedly attacked him so he fought back. After all, he was sanctioned by being disqualified from the event and losing points from Race 1.

Mikel Azcona is leaving Monza as the leader with 164 points on his account, nineteen more than Vernay. Borković is third with 134 points. Attila Tassi is further eleven points back. The season’s finale is scheduled for October 20-21 at Barcelona.

Mikel Azcona leads the championship ahead of season’s finale

Photos: TCR Europe,