Young Driver: Karen Gaillard drives 24H Series

WITH CUPRA FROM TOPCAR Great opportunity for Karen Gaillard: The winner of the 2019 Young Driver Challenge will contest the endurance series in a Cupra TCR. At TOPCAR, she gets fast team partners. The possible change of scenery already came up for discussion last November when Karen Gaillard was crowned overall winner of the 2019 Young Driver Challenge. Now it is [...]

Editorial - February 7, 2020

Karen Gaillard has managed to become a touring car driver. With her team, there's plenty in store for the 2020 24H Series.

The possible change of scene was already discussed last November when Karen Gaillard was crowned overall winner of the 2019 Young Driver Challenge. Now it's official: The 18-year-old from Freiburg will continue to drive a Cupra TCR for TOPCAR sport from Uetendorf. But no longer in the ADAC TCR Germany, where she impressed in the race debut she won at the Nürburgring despite her inexperience, but in the 24H Series.

Fast team partners
As in Dubai, the Bernese team will field a Cupra TCR with regular driver Fabian Danz and one or two Finns - Kari-Pekka Laaksonen and Antti Buri - as well as newcomer Karen Gaillard. With them, the newcomer gets three really fast and experienced team partners who can teach her a lot. That was an important argument for team owners Ruedi and Ronny Jost.

Ruedi Jost: "Karin is very good, but for sprints she should gain more routine. The 24H Series is ideal for that, here she can race without a lot of pressure and not by hook or crook. And with her team partners, the chance is quite big that she can fight for a championship."

Season start in Monza
For the time being, the European endurance races are planned, which will be judged separately. A start at the finale of the intercontinental championship in Texas (24H Cota USA) is being considered.

The season starts at the end of March with the 12H Monza. Before that, Karen will be allowed to test for two days at the Adria Raceway.

Karen Gaillard: "I'm happy to continue with Topcar and to gain a foothold in international touring car racing with them. Endurance racing will mean something new for me again. I'm sure I'll learn a lot from my experienced teammates that can help me progress."