Karen: Countdown to TCR racing debut 🎥
FIRST YOUNG DRIVER IN A RACE These days, Karen Gaillard's pulse is steadily rising. This weekend, the Young Driver finalist in this year's talent competition will contest her first car race at the Nürburgring. In what is now the third season of the "AutoScout24 and CUPRA Young Driver Challenge," Karen Gaillard from Riaz is the first young woman to compete in [...]
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In what is now the third season of the "AutoScout24 and CUPRA Young Driver Challenge", Karen Gaillard from Riaz is the first young woman to secure a race weekend in the ADAC TCR Germany in this unique Swiss talent competition. The 18-year-old health professional in training is also the youngest of the three finalists selected.
Well prepared
Not out of politeness, but because the two young drivers who were still better placed in the final elimination on points opted for the later races at Hockenheim (Mario Anderegg) and at the Sachsenring (James Bischof), Karen Gaillard will be first in line at the Nürburgring next weekend.
The Fribourg native has been preparing for this continuously over the past few weeks. Starting with media coaching with her partners AutoScout24 and CUPRA Switzerland, acquiring her racing license in Dijon (where the teaser was shot), intensive training on the racing simulator and additional fitness sessions.
She does not deny that nervousness is increasing now that the race weekend is approaching.
Karen Gaillard: "I am a little nervous. But I continue to stay focused. I know I'm well prepared and I'm incredibly excited about this opportunity."
Give the best and enjoy
As a kart driver, she has plenty of racing experience, but she only knows the Nürburgring from the simulator and the TCR Germany environment from hearsay. That's why her expectations remain realistic.
Karen Gaillard: "There are only two free practice sessions on Friday and no other testing opportunities before that. I also don't know the level of the TCR Germany. Therefore, I just want to do my best and try to stay on track."
Young Driver Meeting
She can get valuable tips from her race-experienced team boss Ronny Jost from Topcar Sport, who is fielding her Cupra TCR. She will also get honest advice from Julien Apothéloz, last year's overall winner of the Young Driver Challenge at the Nürburgring, who is contesting his fifth race weekend in the German TCR series.
The Zurich high school student is only four months older than Karen and has already established himself in this championship. Apothéloz has already proven his speed several times with several top-10 rankings and a fourth place as his best finish, so his first podium is probably only a matter of time.
Valuable support
For the director of AutoScout24, results are rather secondary. He is primarily pleased that his company is making a significant contribution to promoting young Swiss racing talent.
Pierre-Alain Regali: "Our digital car search engine already supports seasoned pros like Nico Müller and Dominique Aegerter. We are very proud to be able to give young talents like Karen a jump-start with the Young Driver Challenge. I'm super excited to see how she performs at the Nürburgring."
