Yvan Muller Returns to Racing in 2018 WTCR

[Paul Jeffrey]

Racing under the YMR banner and partnering WTCC champion Thed Björk, Yvan Muller will return to full time competition this season in the new WTCR World Cup.

Coming out of a self imposed 12 month retirement from full time racing, Muller will once again look to embark on a top flight campaign in 2018 with his Yvan Muller Racing run Hyundai i30 N TCR, partnering up with four time STCC champion and 2017 WTCC victor Thed Bjork to form potentially one of the strongest outfits confirmed so far in the new look WTCR championship.

At 48 years of age Muller has lost none of the speed that took him to no less than four World Championship's and 48 race victories in the top flight of touring car racing. However the new season should see a different Muller than in pervious years, with the highly decorated Frenchman focussed on developing his new touring car outfit more than outright personal success:

“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.”
​

YMR will face stiff competition in the coming year, not least of which should be in the form of Hyundai stablemates BRC Racing, fielding arch rival Gabriele Tarquini and 2017 WTCC runner up Norbert Michelisz. Tarquini, 56 at the time of the season start in Morocco in April, has spent the last 12 months working closely with Hyundai to develop the new TCR specification i30 N TCR, and should present one of the strongest challengers for series honours at the end of the year if the form displayed by the Italian following his sporadic one-off outings in the TCR last year are anything to go by.

Other strong contenders already confirmed for WTCR in 2018 are the Boutsen Ginion Racing and Münnich Motorsport Honda backed outfits, running former champion Rob Huff (Münnich) and long standing works Honda driver and former Formula One competitor Tiago Monteiro, representing BGR. Both squads will utilise the brand new Honda Civic FK8 Type R TCR developed especially for the new TCR rule set, and should again prove a substantial contender for race wins and honours at the close of the year ahead.

With WTCC having limped along for the last few years before eventually adopting TCR regulations and rebranding to the WTCR moniker, 2018 looks likely to provide one of the most competitive seasons since the glory days of the mid 2000's..

I can't wait..

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Looking forward to WTCR in 2018? Who would you like to see fight it out at the top of the table? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

[Eckhart von Glan]

full list of entrants confirmed atm: http://www.racedepartment.com/threads/wtcr-shapes-up.147062/

 

[KODIAK]

nice hyundai in this series. the company has really been stepping up its brand image and i've become a fan to the point where im actually gonna buy one. fingers crossed they get some good results.

 

[antonn]

it smells good, it smells good !!!!
good luck yvan in your new project.

 

[Matej Lakota]

I will never forget how someone reacted two years ago at YT chat when we watched TCR race. He said: Meh, only eastern Europeans are watching their drivers here.

I can not be happy more that WTCC "FWD DTM lite cars" are banned and touring championship has finally returned back to the roots under TCR regulations.

 

[Celestiale]

nice hyundai in this series. the company has really been stepping up its brand image and i've become a fan to the point where im actually gonna buy one. fingers crossed they get some good results.

Same here. While joking about them some years ago (well not exactly, i talked my mum into a Kia, which is basically a Hyundai as well, but i would've never bought one myself), i am thinking the same now. New car purchase is on the brinks, and i am seriously considering the I30 N. Definitely routing for them in the WTCR

 

[Rodent]

The Klose of touring car drivers.

Now get Richard Rydell back as well.

 

[Nick Gregory]

I remember a few years ago there were no Hyundais or Kias in racing, now they're nearly all over the place!

 

[theravenousbeast]

I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up a pace setter. He only really dropped off somewhat around the time the TC1 regs came through.

 

[pcraenme]

Hopefully Tom Coronel will race in WTCR as well this year.

 

[pcraenme]

Yes, Tom will be driving for the Boutsen Ginion Racing team in a Honda Civic with team mate Tiago Monteiro.