Reigning World Touring Car Champion Thed Björk will team up with Yvan Muller at Yvan Muller Racing for the 2018 FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR), with the team running a pair of Hyundai i30 N TCR cars.
Björk lifted the 2017 WTCC title racing a factory Volvo, but the Swede will now switch to racing a private Hyundai in 2018 as he joins legendary touring car racer Muller’s growing team.
For four-time WTCC champion Muller, he admits that his priorities will be different in the coming season as he races a touring car for his own team for the first time.
“My goal is a bit different than in the past,” said Muller. “I have done my career and my focus now is on the team and our development rather than outright results. I am pleased to have Thed involved, he trusts me and I trust him. There is no doubt that he is a great driver, I know because I spent the season with him last year.”
37-year-old Björk is looking forward to working with Muller again in the coming season, with the Swede heading into the season as one of the leading title contenders.
“I am excited to be back for the 2018 season, especially with Yvan,” said Björk. “We had a great cooperation last year. To race together with him in the new regulations is truly motivating and inspiring.
“We have a lot of new things to learn and the competition is hard, but my goal is to win.”
Head of Eurosport Events, François Ribeiro, believes that the addition of Muller and Björk means his target of having quality drivers rather than a large volume of drivers is being fulfilled.
“By limiting the entry to 26 cars we’ve always targeted quality over quantity and in Thed Björk and Yvan Muller we’ve more than delivered on that pledge,” added Ribeiro.
“Thed proved his ability by taking two seasons to become a world champion. While Yvan’s focus might be more on his team than the track, I have no doubt he will be extremely competitive, as he showed when he came back for the 2017 WTCC finale.”