Yvan Muller admits that he was ‘a bit surprised’ by the latest TCR Balance of Performance [BoP] figures published late on Wednesday night, with the new Lynk & Co 03 receiving the second most BoP weight and limited to 97.5 % engine power.
Before the newest TCR car has even contested its first race it has been given BoP parameters which are amongst the most limiting, with the Cyan Racing-developed car receiving 30 kg of BoP weight, second only to the championship-winning Hyundai.
Further to that the car is one of only three to run at 97.5 % engine power, along with the Hyundai i30 N and the Hyundai Veloster N.
The new car will also run at 80 mm ride height, behind only the two Hyundai models which will run at 90 mm in the coming season.
The as-yet unraced car also has the second-highest running weight of all TCR models worldwide, behind only the North American Veloster, at 1,355 kg.
“I saw the BoP last night and I have to say I was a bit surprised,” admitted Muller. “In one way I was surprised and in one way I was not surprised.
“I was surprised about the fact that we have some penalty, but at the same time they don’t know where we are exactly.
“I think in that case you have to do everybody the same and then see after the first race. But it’s like this and we have to accept it.”
Despite the BoP measures, Muller is confident in the ability of the car to fight at the front, believing that the ‘biggest step’ in developing the base of the car has been completed well.
“I think the basis is good, but I cannot tell you if the car will be at the front or the back. The basis is OK, but whether we are five tenths faster or five tenths slower is impossible to say.
“We can always progress. Of course. I think the big step has been done, but the rest will be to know the car.
“With our experience we know already most of the [types of] problem and how to cure it by this or that, so there are not many surprises to come anymore.”