Yvan Muller has taken his first pole position in the FIA World Touring Car Cup for nearly two years, and where better to do it than at his home race – the inaugural WTCR Race of France, held at Circuit Pau-Arnos?
“For sure, if it was only one pole position [that I could have] during the season, it would be this one,” he said. “It’s nice, initially at the beginning of the year that race was not planned.
“We should be in Asia at the moment but because we are in a complicated period, we are here and it’s a good thing [for me].
“Of course, I’m very pleased with the pole position, with the pace and with the teamwork we all did. We all deserve it.”
Indeed, Muller and the rest of the Cyan Racing squad have looked impressive at this circuit since the very first practice session this morning, which the veteran happened to lead as well.
However, as the day went on, other teams started to close in on the pace that the Swedish outfit’s cars were setting. In the end, it was Hyundai who would end up posing the most threat, with Jean-Karl Vernay and Norbert Michelisz set to start Sunday’s main race just behind Muller, in second and third on the grid.
“The good news is that they are behind me,” Muller reflected. “So that’s already a good point, and then I have to do a good start. If I do a good start it will be a second good point, and then if I can stay out in the front I would not say it [the win] would be done, but it can be.
“So let’s see, let’s see. Many things can happen still. At the moment I will just enjoy the pole position for another half hour and then I will work on the set-up of the car for tomorrow.”
But, before Muller can take his pole position in the main race, he will have to survive through the reverse-grid opener on Sunday morning. As such, he will be desperate to avoid repeating the mistake of Rob Huff at the Hungaroring, who missed out on pole in the main race after picking up damage in race one.
“Race one we start from P10,” Muller said. “So it’s important to save the car and to be safe for race two, which can be complicated with the first corner chicane – anything can happen there.
“We saw last weekend in Most what happened, so I just hope everybody will stay calm and clever, but there is always one who is disconnecting!”
Race one gets underway tomorrow morning at 10:00 CEST (09:00 BST).