JK Racing Series set for European debut

The sleepy town of Toulon — on the southern tip of France with an area of 42. 84 sq.km. and a total population of 1,70,041 — will come alive this weekend, with the JK Racing Asia Series set to make its European debut.

The event will feature alongside the Blancpain Endurance Series and Lamborghini Super Trofeo. The action will get underway at the famous Paul Ricard circuit with the qualifying and the final race slotted for Saturday and Sunday respectively.

India’s Aditya Patel will lead the charge for Team Eurointernational and will team up with Aston Hare and Nabil Jeffri, who have impressed in the first four rounds of the series.

The unusually flat track at the 5.8 km Paul Ricard circuit — also the first time for JK Series participants — is likely to pose a challenge for the drivers and it will be interesting to see how they adapt to the challenge.

Patel created history last month when he became the first Indian driver to win the 24-hour VLN endurance racing series at Nurburgring, Germany. “We are looking forward to our maiden round in Europe. We believe that it is a step forward and hope the teams and the drivers make the best of this opportunity,” said JK Tyre & Industries Limited motorsports head Sanjay Sharma.

“Our new racing sensation Aditya Patel is a guest driver at Paul Ricard. He has proved his mettle on the Indian and the international circuit and he won’t let it be an easy weekend for his competitors.”

New Zealand’s Chris Vlock and Sean Walkinshaw of England will join the current lineup for rounds five and six of the event. Vlock has participated in the FormulaTour 1600 and the Toyota Racing Series, while Walkinshaw is a regular at the Formula Renault and is the son of late TWR founder, Tom Walkinshaw.