Chinese GP || April 21 || 15h00 (Local time)

Le Mans: Vernay joins the Peugeot team as reserve driver

"We looked at a few of the discipline’s rising stars with a good track record"

By Franck Drui

21 April 2011 - 17:44

10 Peugeot drivers are set to take turns behind the wheel of the three official 908s at this weekend’s test day at Le Mans. The 23-year old French driver, Jean-Karl Vernay, joins the Team Peugeot Total as reserve driver.

10 qualification laps for Jean-Karl Vernay

On Sunday 24 April, Sébastien Bourdais, Anthony Davidson, Marc Gené, Pedro Lamy, Nicolas Minassian, Franck Montagny, Simon Pagenaud, Stéphane Sarrazin and Alexander Wurz will make their way to the famous Le Mans circuit for a long day’s work. They will be joined by Jean-Karl Vernay.

"We were looking for a reserve driver”, explains Olivier Quesnel, Peugeot Sport Director. “We looked at a few of the discipline’s rising stars with a good track record and decided to offer a test to Jean-Karl Vernay this week. He has raced in a driver development series, in similar fashion to Sébastien Bourdais and Simon Pagenaud, in the United States in Indy Lights. He is young and fits the profile of our drivers. It’s also a way of us preparing for the future".

Jean-Karl Vernay therefore took part in an endurance race at Aragon this week, alongside the other Peugeot drivers. “He was reasonable in his approach”, continues Pascal Dimitri, Peugeot Sport Team Manager. “He made constant progress, carefully followed our instructions and at no stage attempted to overstep the mark. Jean-Karl drove a fine last stint in the early hours, as the sun rose. It convinced us to include him in the team. He will therefore be at Le Mans this Sunday. He has yet to drive at the track, so the regulations state that he must complete 10 qualification laps in order to be able to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans”.

“I am very pleased to be given this magnificent opportunity”, concludes Jean-Karl Vernay. “This is my first professional racing driver contract. I would like to thank Peugeot Sport for having placed their faith in me like this. It’s a great achievement for me. I am proud to be able to help the team and the lead drivers go after the race wins”.