Muller on another tin-top charge
Yvan Muller was supposed to be well into his retirement by now. The former British Touring Car Champion and four-time World Touring Car Champion quit racing way back in 2016, only to have a change of heart and return in 2018 for the start of the new World Touring Car Cup. Now at the age of 50, he’s charging hard for a fifth tin-top world title.
The Frenchman took a brace of wins at the penultimate round at Macau in his Swedish-run Lynk & Co. The new Chinese brand’s perfect weekend was completed when three-time WTCC champion Andy Priaulx took his first win in the series in the third and final race of the weekend.
Muller’s points haul has lifted him right into the thick of the title action, just 11 points behind Hungarian Norbert Michelisz, who jumped back to the head of the standings at the expense of Esteban Guerrieri. The Argentine had a torrid Macau weekend in his Honda, but still lies second in the points, nine down on Michelisz and two ahead of Muller. The Malayasian season finale at Sepang in mid-December should not be missed.
Those who remember Muller from the BTCC might not be surprised to learn age has not mellowed his fierce competitive instinct. Intra-team tensions between the veteran and Thed Björk, who is fourth in the points, have been brewing for a while – but in Macau the team showed the Swede where true power lies. Twice in Macau Björk was ordered to sacrifice places to aid Muller’s title quest, despite being far from out of the running himself. That must have stung.
Like so many great racing drivers, Muller will do whatever it takes to win – even if it means reverting to politics to get what he wants.