Lynk & Co ends its WTCR commitment

This is a threat that has been hovering around the WTCR for several rounds already. Before the start of the 7th meeting of the season in France at the Anneau du Rhin, Lynk & Co has just announced that it is ending its involvement in the competition. As in Italy and Germany, the team believes that it cannot take part in any race without experiencing the risk of punctures. In Vallelunga, Yvan Müller lost control of his vehicle at 220 km/h because of his tires. With this decision, five cars will be missing from the grid. In Italy, the drivers entered by Lynk & Co were forced to enter the pit lane after the two formation laps of each race. 

Lynk & Co Cyan Racing has suspended its #WTCR competition effective immediately due to the current tire safety situation. Read more: https://t.co/5frbHRTlR7 pic.twitter.com/IKWEhD8Pcz

— Cyan Racing (@Cyan_Racing) August 4

« This is the hardest decision we have ever made because every member of Cyan Racing is here to win and has sacrificed a lot to get where we are today. But we cannot race safely under the current circumstances and safety is our number one priority. We would like to thank the FIA ​​for their support in these difficult circumstances », Explains Fredrik Wahlén, the team manager of Cyan Racing in a press release.

It all started at the Nürburgring. In Germany, the organizers of the World Cup had no choice but to cancel the two races planned on the program after multiple punctures and delamination of the tires. Goodyear Eagle tires F1 SuperSport could not resist the pressure and many drivers crashed. But the most affected team remained Lynk & Co with the heaviest car on the grid. 

The situation therefore recurred once again in Italy during the last round of the WTCR. Faced with the risk of punctures and the lack of guarantees provided by the organizers of the World Cup, the team decided not to take part in the two races. “ We have a tire this year that can't handle the BoP and compensation weight for all cars on all tracks. And our car is the heaviest of all. As a result, our drivers are subject to tire failures at high speeds and accidents. It is simply impossible for Cyan Racing to continue the season safely », underlines Fredrik Wahlén. 

At the Ring of the Rhine, the announced party will ultimately not take place and Yvan Muller and Yann Ehrlacher, who were to perform in front of their audience, will once again have to watch the battles on track from the pit wall. This withdrawal from the competition of Lynk & Co also has the consequence of officially ending the chances of the reigning world champion to defend his crown. 

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