Preview

WTCC

Muller eyes driver's title as Suzuka marks 200th WTCC race

Spurred by his maiden WTCC victory just days ago, RML teammate Tom Chilton targets more winning performances

Edited: Jun 1, 2018, 2:55 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

SUZUKA [Japan]: This weekend sees the return of the FIA World Touring Car Championship to Japan as the series heads East to embark on the final tour of the year across Asia.

Yvan Muller, Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T, RML

Photo by: XPB Images

Fondly referenced by many as one of the best circuits on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar, Suzuka has a rich heritage in motorsport having first served as a Honda test track in 1962. Since the late eighties the track, located 50km South West of Nagoya, has been the on/off home of the F1 Japanese Grand Prix but whilst the WTCC may not be unleashed on the full 5.8km rarity, with its infamous figure of eight overlay, anticipation is mounting as to whether current championship leader, Yvan Muller, can claim his fourth Drivers' title here this weekend.

Just 21 points separates the Frenchman from securing championship honours and with 25 points up for grabs for a race win, plus a further 5 points awarded to the pole position qualifier, the Wellingborough-based team arrive with unfaltering determination to bring home what could be their 7th WTCC title since the championship's inception in 2005.

Visiting for the third year, RML has a strong history and is the only team to have taken pole position at the iconic venue - in both cases the pole sitter has staged a lights to flag victory. Alain Menu currently holds the honours. In the past two years RML/Chevrolet took 7 podiums, and, in 2012 it was here that the American marque sealed the Manufacturers' championship with over 800 points.

Adding to the history books, the FIA WTCC will celebrate a major milestone when it completes the 200th race as the lights go out for race two on Sunday. Since 2005 190 drivers from thirty-four countries have competed in at least one race whilst ten different manufacturers have entered in the series that has visited thirty-two race tracks in twenty-three countries, over four continents. And adding to the prestige of the event, the grid will field a record of 30 cars for rounds 19 & 20 - nine of which are RML-built Cruzes - the highest number seen to date (Shanghai last year staged eight Cruzes and one Lacetti).

Vying for the prestige of the 200th race win and his fourth title, Yvan Muller says: "We arrive at the last party of the WTCC with three races in Asia. The Drivers' title can come back to me this weekend in Suzuka so, as in Sonoma two weeks ago, I will emulate the same strategy - to score as many points as possible."

Asked if he arrives feeling any extra pressure, Yvan adds: "In some ways yes, because the reward of a title is so much bigger but equally, my focus remains as it has been throughout the year - we need to perform the best that we can as a team and go out there to win."

For team-mate Tom Chilton, Suzuka poses an exciting challenge and one the Aon-backed WTCC-winner relishes: "I'm really looking forward to racing at Suzuka now I'm fully dialled in with the car. It's another technical little circuit and hopefully I can keep my winning streak up. I need to move up from 4th in the championship to 3rd this weekend if I'm to keep my goal of 2nd overall. Our Cruze is really suited to this type of circuit and I hope we can really use that to our advantage and close down on Tarquini this weekend, especially as they have just gained an extra 10kg of success ballast and are just 30kg lighter than us now."

In addition to the main WTCC activity, this weekend also launches the new Asia Trophy - in which the top Asian drivers competing on a race-by-race basis can score points for both the Trophy and the main WTCC Drivers' Championship. This welcome addition to the regular fixture looks to encourage and support the increasing interest from Asian teams and competitors who often run former WTCC cars in National championships across Hong Kong, Macau, China and other venues.

Three of the nine RML-built Cruzes on the grid will enter under the Asia Trophy - China Dragon Racing will run two normally aspirated Chevrolet Cruze LTs for Macanese drivers Filipe Clemente de Souza, who last year entered the Chevrolet Lacetti, and Ng Kin Veng, who returns to the Cruze. Son Veng Racing will field local driver, Jerónimo António Badaraco, who makes his debut in the WTCC, also in an RML built Cruze.

The FIA World Touring Car Championship resumes at Suzuka, Japan, on 21-22 September 2013.

RML Group

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

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Tiago Monteiro aiming to shine in the land of the rising sun

Next article O’Young will push for season's first win at Suzuka

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix

NASCAR O'Reilly

NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly

Phoenix II

4 h

Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix

Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Singapore GP

7 h

Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team

NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

8 h

NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles

Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

9 h

Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix

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