WTCC – Muller: “I have to win second place for Citroën”

José Maria Lopez already crowned among the Drivers, and Citroën almost assured of the Manufacturers' title (still two points to glean), one of the major issues at the end of the season in the World Touring Car Championship will lie in the fight for place runner-up in the championship behind “Pechito”.

If Rob Huff and Norbert Michelisz can still mathematically claim this position, the fight could well focus between Yvan Muller and Tiago Monteiro. The Citroën driver, winner for the first time of the year in Japan in the main race, with the help of his teammate, came back level on points with the Portuguese from Honda.

The Shanghai weekend could be a good opportunity for Muller to achieve an important result in this regard, the Chinese route being rather favorable to the qualities of the C-Elysée according to the Frenchman.

“In the past, I have had ups and downs in China and Qatar, but I still think we will be in good shape, admits the four-time world champion. The fight promises to be tough, because our opponents have made enormous progress this season.

At the same time, our car remains the heaviest and we will have to watch everyone, especially the manufacturers who will not have any ballast this weekend (Lada, Chevrolet and Volvo, when Honda will lose 20 kg of ballast, Editor's note). I find the Shanghai circuit interesting. I like its fast profile and its very long straight line is made for the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC. »

The Alsatian also acknowledges having an obligation of results towards his team, which will withdraw from the championship at the end of the year to concentrate on the World Rally Championship with the new C3 (see the Concept WRC revealed yesterday).

« I have to win second place in the World Championship, for Citroën and for the whole team. » proclaims Muller, 2nd and 1st in the two rounds of Shanghai in 2015.