Muller's nephew enters WTCC with privateer Lada
Yann Ehrlacher, nephew of four-time WTCC drivers' champion Yvan Muller, will race in WTCC 2017 in a Lada Vesta, run by the French team RC Motorsport.
Photo by: FIA WTCC
The team have been testing the car, bought from the now defunct Lada Sport team, at their base in Magny-Cours today ahead of a planned two-car entry in the championship.
“This is such an amazing opportunity for me and I really can’t believe it’s happening,” said Ehrlacher, who's also the son of ex-Exagon Motorsport team owner and former racing driver Cathy Muller.
“I’ve been really impressed with the car in testing and the team is working really hard, too. Obviously there is a lot for me to learn and understand, but I know the team has valuable WTCC experience.”
WTCC promoter François Ribeiro said: “While we’re pleased a solution has been found for the race-winning Vestas to continue competing in the WTCC, we’re also very excited at the prospect of welcoming another talented rookie in Yann Ehrlacher, who has been trained by Yvan Muller, no less, and has been really fast in testing."
Ehrlacher has won titles in Mitjet 2L and the French Supertouring Championship and was part of Yvan Muller Racing's LMP3 set-up in Road to Le Mans and ELMS last year.
Ribeiro continued: "Along with Aurelien Panis, the WTCC has two more young drivers with big potential and it will be interesting to watch their progress and performances in 2017, when I am sure they will both make their mark on the championship.”
RC Motorsport will confirm their second driver in the coming weeks.
2017 WTCC grid so far:
Team | Car | Drivers |
Honda JAS | Honda Civic |
Tiago Monteiro Norbert Michelisz Ryo Michigami |
Volvo Polestar | Volvo S60 |
Thed Bjork Nicky Catsburg Nestor Girolami |
Sebastien Loeb Racing | Citroen C-Elysee |
Tom Chilton John Filippi Mehdi Bennani |
Munnich Motorsport | Citroen C-Elysee | Rob Huff |
ROAL Motorsport | Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 | Tom Coronel |
Zengo Motorsport | Honda Civic | Aurelien Panis |
RC Motorsport | Lada Vesta | Yann Ehrlacher |
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