PRO ANNUAL 2018

Even a serious crash and zero points at the Salzburgring in Austria could not stop this driver’s route to the title. Vernay’s Leopard Racing team rebuilt the Golf GTI in just one week, allowing Vernay to battle his way to third and seventh places at the Hungaroring. These results ensured that the Frenchman stayed in touch with Tassi, who had taken the lead in the championship. At the penultimate race weekend in China, Vernay returned to the top of the standings with a second-place finish and showed no inclination of relinquishing this position. Thanks to Vernay’s consistency, and three other race wins - Gianni Morbidelli from the WestCoast Racing claimed two victories at Oschersleben and Huff won at the penultimate race weekend in Zhejiang, China – the Golf GTI TCR 2017 was crowned “Model Car of the Year”. This was despite a highly-competitive field for the international TCR series, featuring some tough contenders from Honda, Audi, Seat, Alfa Romeo, Opel and Kia. The international TCR series was not the only major stage for the Golf this season. Kantadhee Kusiri celebrated winning the title in the competitive TCR Asia, while German drivers Benjamin Leuchter and Andreas Gülden won the TCR category in the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring and Francisco Abreu won the drivers’ title in the TCR Iberico. Meanwhile, the Golf GTI was named best racing car in the TCR Benelux series. Even a serious crash and zero points at the Salzburgring in Austria could not stop this driver’s route to the title PRO ANNUAL 2018 68