10 years ago… Yvan Muller’s first world title in Tourism

In 2008, Yvan Muller is not yet considered the record holder for WTCC world titles (4). He has none, and even lost the crown in 2007 due to a faulty mechanical part in Macau. So this time, the Alsatian really wants this title.

To achieve this, the 2003 BTCC champion (the British Touring Championship) gleaned three successes during the year. Above all, it shows remarkable regularity, with no withdrawals during the previous 22 events. Enough to allow him to land in Macau with 14 points ahead of his teammate Gabriele Tarquini, the Italian having notably given up twice.

The spearhead of the Seat armada then used the Leon WTCC, but in a version which caused a lot of ink to flow at the time. Indeed, under the hood, there is a… diesel engine! A novelty in Tourism, introduced in the summer of 2007. The standard 2-liter 170 horsepower unit has been increased to a power of 280 horsepower with the help of a new turbo.

The most obvious result, the Leon TDI comes out of corners like a bullet, also useful for getting good starts against rear-wheel drive BMWs (the Seat is front-wheel drive). However, in Macau, it was Alain Menu who won pole in his Chevrolet Lacetti (petrol and traction). Yvan Muller sets the third fastest time and can see it coming, because Gabriele Tarquini only set the eighth fastest time.

On Sunday morning, Race 1 can therefore allow Yvan Muller to secure the title. At the start, he took no risks and let Rob Huff (Chevrolet) and Rickard Rydell (Seat) overtake him. Diligently, he passed Rob Huff again after the Englishman missed his attack on Andy Priaulx (BMW), then Rickard Rydell thanks to the Swede's engine failure.

Gabriele Tarquini sails in seventh position, it's perfect for Yvan Muller who finally wins the title at the finish by finishing third! Undoubtedly moved, the Alsatian will speak about the value of this championship in the columns ofCARhebdo. “This is the culmination of the work of the entire Seat team, with the collaboration of Oreca, but also the culmination of my entire career, underlined the neo-world champion.

Even if I said last week that a world title was not going to change my life, it's because I didn't want to tell myself that it was going to change it, in case it didn't happen. Honestly, it's not going to change her in the public eye, financially or otherwise, but It will take my mind off the fact that it has been 24 years since I lost my first title in the French Junior championship in karting, he recalls.

I was 14 years old, there were 22 laps, I completed 21 and a half in the lead, but I got overtaken in the final straight. I lost one again last year. And what's more, I lost several national titles in this kind of configuration. Today, it erases the rest. I made my career…and inshallah! »

A decade later, Yvan Muller has a new card to add a title to his extensive record. He will show up in Macau in the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) at the head of his own team with 39 points behind this guy Gabriele Tarquini (Hyundai). But with 87 units to be awarded, nothing is being done.