Macau marks the conclusion of the 2011 FIA World Touring Car Championship and the drivers’ Championship battle has come down to Chevrolet team-mates Yvan Muller and Rob Huff.
Twenty points separate the reigning Champion and his British team-mate and with fifty points up for grabs from the two races on the challenging former Portuguese enclave street circuit, the title destination is far from sorted.
The traditional WTCC season closer is normally full of surprises and on the fast and narrow circuit, an incident could happen on every corner – this has ensured that the circuit has a reputation similar to that of its city’s status – a gambling hotspot.
Yvan Muller arrives in Macau looking to defend his crown and this is the fifth campaign that he arrives with a chance of title glory – he has won two titles at the circuit (2008, 2010) while finishing as vice Champion twice (2007, 2009) and he is hoping to make that three titles to two vice Champions.
Muller said: “This is the fifth year in a row that I head to Macau to fight for the Drivers’ title, which is already an achievement in itself. I have won the title twice and I have been a vice-champion twice also, so I hope to bring the count to 3-2. Macau is a circuit like no other, probably the craziest one where I have ever raced. It’s really quite an exceptional place for having a title decided, but I love it! For the rest, I’m not making predictions and I am not working on strategies. I’ll try to do the best I can as always, and we’ll see what happens!”
The second contender is Huff, and he is chasing his maiden WTCC crown. He has one simple aim for this weekend, at a circuit he considers to be his favourite: “I am currently relaxing a bit in Thailand; it’s the perfect preparation before the grand-finale! Macau is probably my favourite circuit and I have always been quite successful there: three wins and two poles in the last three years. I’m pretty confident I can do well this time too, and I aim at pole for both races and two race wins to end the season as positively as possible! The title? Anything is possible, as in Macau anything can happen and it normally does…”
Alain Menu was knocked out of the title battle last time out at Suzuka despite securing his second victory of the Asian tour from his second Pole Position. He plans to not get involved with the title battle around the streets of Macau: “This final Asian tour is being quite successful for me, as I took the pole and one win at Suzuka and again at Shanghai. I will definitely try to do as well in Macau too, although it’s a pity that I am out for the title battle. I always enjoyed Macau, the track, the city, the atmosphere. It’s always a little bit of a lottery there, but I hope to do well and to be in front of Yvan and Rob. That would be the best way not to interfere in their title battle!”
The final two races of the season see Chevrolet complete a dominant 2011 season – with eleven Pole Positions from eleven qualifying sessions and nineteen wins from twenty two races, the team have secured the Manufacturers’ and drivers’ title, and a special livery will be unveiled during the Thursday testing session.
“The season is coming to an end and I think we’ll live an even greater than usual finale in Macau!” exclaimed Eric Neve. He then added: “Of course, we will be completely neutral in the final duel between Yvan and Rob. Both, and Alain too, did a fantastic job throughout the season and both Yvan and Rob deserve the title. Whoever wins, we will have a great champion and a great vice-champion. Above all, it has been a terrific season for Chevrolet, with 11 poles out of 11 events so far, and 19 wins out of 22 races, just to mention that. It’s unprecedented in the WTCC and we can be proud of what the team has accomplished.”