Race one for the TCR International Series at Oschersleben saw a clash between title contenders Attila Tassi and Jean-Karl Vernay on lap four, putting the Hungarian into the gravel on the final turn, whilst Vernay received a drive-through penalty.
The pair spun out coming out of turn one of the very first lap, forcing them to join the back of the field, before the Frenchman hit the rear of Tassi’s Honda Civic a couple of laps later.
Vernay felt that the 18-year-old’s actions were not the best call going into the fast turn one, saying to TouringCars.net after the finish that Tassi had “fucked up my race.”
“I was in front of him and I just don’t know what he tried, as he hit me and I spun,” explained the Leopard Racing driver, who is currently third in the standings on 138 points.
“It was pretty stupid – here it’s a long race and there can be a lot of problems, punctures and crashes, so to try everything in the first corner is not very mature. He’s young – I understand that.
“After that I tried to come back, I tried to overtake him on the inside, but he closed the door pretty heavily. I touched him, he went sideways and of course I pushed him, he was right in front of my nose.”
Vernay also admitted that his actions on lap four were not as intended, knowing that scoring points this weekend are crucial to his 2017 campaign.
“I’m not that stupid. I knew even with what happened in the first corner I could be able to score some points.
“It’s really disappointing, but in race two we will start at the front and if it’s a good race we can score some points and forget about what happened.”
Tassi was far from pleased with Vernay’s apparent intentions, saying that he only had the option to go up the inside of the #2 Golf GTi on the opening lap.
“I’m kind of angry at him, as it lost some points scoring opportunities for me,” admitted the Hungarian to TouringCars.net.
“I was right to go there, as I had the inside line on the track and he closed the door. We both got sideways and ended up at the back of the field.”
Tassi says he was checking the handling and balance of the car before the Golf of Vernay hit the rear of his Civic on lap three, but he only had one opinion the Turn 14 clash.
“I don’t have to say anything, because we all saw what took place.”