Interview
WTCC Vallelunga March testing
Lopez ponders future with WEC, DTM and WTCC as his options
Jose Maria Lopez says he is yet to decide on his future beyond this year, but has named WEC and DTM as his likeliest destinations should he leave WTCC.
Rachit Thukral
Edited: Mar 5, 2016, 3:20 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Citroen is pulling out of WTCC at the end of the season, which could force Lopez into a change of teams - or even a change of categories.
But the two-time champion insists his first priority is to defend the title, saying it’s not an appropriate time to consider his future.
“We haven’t even started 2017. My mind, my wheel, my power is focused on 2016 now. I want to do well in WTCC,’’ Lopez told Motorsport.com in an exclusive interview.
“I want to defend the championship. I want to do it well. I know I need to have my full focus on this.
“We will see. I think there’s time for everything. I don’t think it’s time to think about 2017 right now. For the moment, my number one priority is to do the best in 2016.
"And of course, try to keep on with this amazing team, which at the moment, I have not been placed for 2017. But maybe there'll be something. I don’t know."
Le Mans could fill void left by F1 near-miss
That said, the 32-year-old has brought up a variety of options, with the 24 Hours of Le Mans being a particularly fascinating race for the Argentine.
“I think, for me today, after Formula 1 is World Endurance Championship. I mean, talking about LMP1, for example, it’s one of the most technological cars to have,’’ he said.
“It’s really quick. They have done some really similar times to Formula 1, in Shanghai, I think."
Lopez, who came agonisingly close to racing in F1 with the dead-on-arrival US F1 team, said that a Le Mans drive could make up for the near-miss.
“I didn’t get to Formula 1, but maybe trying to be [at Le Mans] will be like filling an empty space.
“But it’s not easy. At the moment, it’s only a dream. And then there’s also DTM, maybe even staying back in WTCC.
"I need to keep my doors open because one thing I’m sure 100% is I don’t want to go back to Argentina, I want to keep racing here."
When asked when he will be allowed to explore opportunities, he said: "Contractually, in June."
Interview by Stefan Ziegler
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Analysis: Did an unnoticed Raikkonen lap reveal Ferrari's true pace?
Next article Chennai II MRF F1600: Tharani wins thrilling second race
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Rachit Thukral
Winners and losers from politically-charged MotoGP Malaysian GP
MotoGP
MotoGP
Malaysian GP
6 h
Winners and losers from politically-charged MotoGP Malaysian GP
MotoGP responds to Yamaha’s Qatar GP withdrawal
MotoGP
MotoGP
Malaysian GP
MotoGP responds to Yamaha’s Qatar GP withdrawal
More from
Jose Maria Lopez
Lopez named as Toyota Hypercar reserve for WEC's Le Mans 24 Hours
WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Lopez named as Toyota Hypercar reserve for WEC's Le Mans 24 Hours
Lopez's Toyota return at Le Mans "like I had never left"
WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans test day
Lopez's Toyota return at Le Mans "like I had never left"
Why Toyota chose Lopez over Miyata to replace Conway at Le Mans
WEC
WEC
Why Toyota chose Lopez over Miyata to replace Conway at Le Mans
More from
Citroën World Touring Car team
Muller: "I've just done my job"
WTCC
WTCC
Muller: "I've just done my job"
Muller thanks Lopez for Motegi WTCC win "gesture"
WTCC
WTCC
Motegi
Muller thanks Lopez for Motegi WTCC win "gesture"
Monteiro: Citroen likely to remain "the strongest car" in 2017
WTCC
WTCC
Monteiro: Citroen likely to remain "the strongest car" in 2017
Latest news
Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
45 min
Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash
Jeff Burton and Dale Jarrett blast Carson Hocevar: "That's not racing"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
1 h
Jeff Burton and Dale Jarrett blast Carson Hocevar: "That's not racing"
Kimi Antonelli reveals why he won’t take number 1 for the 2027 F1 season
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
Kimi Antonelli reveals why he won’t take number 1 for the 2027 F1 season
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe