Citroën head into their final World Touring Car Championship season ‘driven by passion’ to achieve the ‘simple objective’ of retaining their manufacturer’s and drivers’ world titles, according to Team Principal Yves Matton.
The French marque laid down the gauntlet at the official WTCC tests in Vallelunga last week, where independent racer Mehdi Bennani was the fastest driver of all on the Wednesday. Just behind the Moroccan was reigning champion José María López, who had earlier been the fastest driver in the morning.
Despite slimming down to just two official cars for 2016, Matton remains hopeful of retaining the titles which the outfit has scooped up each year since entering the WTCC.
“One month before the start of the 2016 season, this group test session with our main rivals allowed for confirming the performance level of the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC,” said Matton. “Our objectives are as simple to sum up as they are as hard to achieve: we want to retain the Manufacturers and Drivers titles won in 2014 and 2015.
“Still driven by passion, enthusiasm and humility, the team is united around this ambition, beginning with our two drivers. Between them, Pechito [López] and Yvan have won six of the last eight FIA WTCC titles. They are the best duo to take on the challenge of a third consecutive crown.
“Yvan and Pechito have the same hunger to win and they will set off –like the previous seasons – on equal terms.”
The respective tasks of López and Muller will be made more challenging in 2016, not least by the addition of 20 kg of extra compensation weight to the pace-setting car. Furthermore, changes at Honda have seen the Japanese brand increase to three works cars, and the signing of Rob Huff is likely to move the competition closer to the pace-setting C-Elysées.
“It looks like it will be an interesting season, with new cars and quite a few changes among the drivers,” anticipates López. “The rule changes will also modify the approach to a race weekend.
“I think that the ‘team spirit’ will be more important than ever before. And for that, Citroën Racing is the best team that I’ve ever been with. Yvan and I have worked closely together for two years and we have forged a relationship built on mutual respect and the goal to take Citroën to the top.
“We looked to make progress this winter, but now it is hard to improve a car as successful as the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC. Each change takes more time than before, because the engineers must analyse everything to verify that an evolution will be truly beneficial
“It will be even more complicated for us, especially with the 80 kg of ballast that we will carry at the start of the championship. Everyone seems to expect us to continue to win, but I think the competition will be stiffer. We will give our best effort to win both titles while having fun. ”
Meanwhile, Muller is looking forward to not only the arrival of Volvo as a new rival, but also the changes to the sporting regulations which will also see manufacturers pitted against each other in a cycling-inspired time-trial post qualifying.
“There is always a certain amount of excitement coming into a new season,” said the four-time champion. “After these months off, I am anxious to return to action, to see if we have done a good job this winter and where we are compared to the competition.
“Like each year, the WTCC brings its share of innovations. Obviously, there is the arrival of a new manufacturer, but also a new rules package that will change tactics.
“Even though the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC begins its third season, we still wanted to evolve the car despite a lower progression of margin.
“My ambitions are still the same, since I have raced in this championship, I have systematically finished on the season ending podium. It will be the same year, if possible taking a fifth world championship. To do this, everything will have to fall into place, especially success. That is also part of a driver’s work.”