Citroën Racing Technical Director Xavier Mestelan says that his team will be able to repair Yvan Muller’s damaged car in time for this weekend’s French World Touring Car Championship event, after it was heavily damaged last weekend in Morocco.
Muller’s car suffered significant front-end damage at the start of race two when the Frenchman crashed into the back of Tom Coronel’s Chevrolet at the startline. Despite the damage, Mestelan is confident that the car will be repaired in time for the team’s home event.
“The damage is quite something to behold, but the chassis structure remains intact and we’re going to be able to repair the car in time,” said Mestelan. “We really want Yvan’s car to be in top shape so that he can compete on equal terms. That doesn’t mean we’ll neglect Pechito and Seb’s cars, though! Despite all the preparatory work we did in testing, we are still in the process of getting to know the car.”
Citroën Racing Team Principal Yves Matton hopes Muller will enjoy better luck this weekend, with the reigning champion the only Citroën driver not to take a victory in Morocco.
“The way the first weekend of the season went confirmed that we have a group of exceptional drivers,” said Matton. “I really hope that Yvan will fare better this time and notch up his first win of 2014.
“We dominated in Marrakech, but we are keeping our feet firmly on the ground. We still have a lot to learn and we know that our rivals will improve quickly.”
This weekend marks Muller’s return to the Le Castellet circuit, perhaps better known as Circuit Paul Ricard. The WTCC has never raced on the circuit in the south of France and it is almost 20 years since Muller himself last raced on the circuit back in the Super Touring era of the sport.
“I think the crowd will see some interesting battles in Le Castellet,” predicts Muller. “I’ve got happy memories of Paul Ricard, particularly from the Touring Car World Cup. That was back in 1995. I barely dare say the year! It was only my second season in Super Touring, but I finished in fourth place.”
Muller lies fifth in the driver’s championship on 17 points, having scored one podium in Marrakech.