Thed Björk says that winning the World Touring Car Championship title would be “just as good” as F1, if the Volvo driver can beat Honda rival Norbert Michelisz to the title on Friday.
Björk heads into the final round of the WTCC with a 6.5 point advantage over Michelisz, although the gap was reduced in the previous round in Macau.
The Swede has risen to the top of the drivers’ championship standings over the course of the season, and he has been atop the table for the past five races.
Now Björk has the biggest challenge of the year ahead of him in Qatar’s night races, with added support from the returning Yvan Muller, as he aims to maintain his advantage for one final time to bag the biggest prize in touring car racing.
“When I was young I wanted to be Formula One World Champion but now this is just as good,” admitted Björk. “I feel relaxed. Obviously I’m excited because in a little bit more than one week we’ll know.
“But everything we’ve done this year I will just try to put it together for the last days, focus on myself and just go as fast as I can and see if this is enough to win.
“I already feel after Macau I’m one of them that can win it, one of the top guys, and I would rather be in the front door than in the back.”
Friday’s WTCC finale will take place in the evening, as the last races of the season take place under the Losail floodlights.