Yvan Muller (born 16 August 1969)[1] is a French auto racing driver most noted for success in touring car racing. He is a four-time World Touring Car Champion, winning the title in 2008 with SEAT, in 2010 and 2011 with Chevrolet and in 2013 with RML. He was British Touring Car Champion in 2003 with Vauxhall.
| Yvan Muller | |
|---|---|
 Muller at the 2014 FIA WTCC Race of Japan | |
| Nationality |  French |
| Born | 16 August 1969 Altkirch, France |
| Related to | Cathy Muller (sister) Yann Ehrlacher (nephew) Yves Ehrlacher (brother-in-law) |
| World Touring Car Championship and World Touring Car Cup career | |
| Debut season | 2006 |
| Car number | 48 |
| Former teams | SEAT Sport, Chevrolet, RML, Citroën Racing, Polestar Cyan Racing |
| Starts | 328 |
| Wins | 56 |
| Poles | 33 |
| Fastest laps | 40 |
| Best finish | 1st in 2008, 10–11, 13 |
| Previous series | |
| 2010, 2012 2010–11 2006-17 2003 2001 2000–05 1998–2005 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1989–91 1988 | V8 Supercars World Rally Championship WTCC ETCC ESTC V8 Supercars BTCC STW Italian Superturismo French Supertouring French Supertouring International F3000 British F2 French F3 French Formula Renault |
| Championship titles | |
| 2013 2011 2010 2008 2003 1995 1992 | WTCC WTCC WTCC WTCC BTCC French Supertouring British F2 |
| BTCC record | |
| Teams | |
| Drivers' championships | 1 |
| Wins | 36 |
| Podium finishes | 94 |
| Poles | 17 |
| Fastest laps | 30 |
| Debut season | 1998 |
| First win | 1999 |
| Best championship position | 1st (2003) |
| Final season (2005) position | 2nd (273 points) |
Racing career
editSingle-seaters
editAfter competing in French Formula Renault and French Formula Three, he won the British Formula Two championship title in 1992 and competed in the FIA Formula 3000 Championship in 1993. His sister Cathy Muller had previously contested four races in this category between 1986 and 1988.[2][3]
French Supertouring Championship, Italian Superturismo and Super Tourenwagen Cup
edit1994 Yvan Muller made his debut in French Supertouring Championship with Team BMW Fina finishing third while the following year he became Champion. In 1996 due to lack of manufacturers involved he decide to pass to Audi Sport Italia and to compete in Italian Superturismo Championship finishing fourth overall. After one season he moved to STW in order to develop the new Audi A4 front wheel. He ended seventh and in 1998 he passed to BTCC.
Three years later Muller was called by N.Technology to run with Alfa Romeo 156 to help Alfa Romeo and Giovanardi to win the European Super Touring Championship 2001.
British Touring Car championship
editYvan Muller started his BTCC career in 1998 replacing Audi Vice Champion Frank Biela that in the while came back in STW. Muller thanks to his major experience with front wheel Audi A4 got three podium and finished 7th in the 1998 championship while his teammate John Bintcliffe finished just 15th. After Audi withdraw at the end of 1998 BTCC, Yvan moved to the Vauxhall Motorsport team run by Triple Eight Race Engineering for 1999 alongside John Cleland using the Vauxhall Vectra. He would win his first BTCC race at round 7 Brands Hatch, he would eventually finish 6th in the championship while teammate John Cleland finished 13th. 2000 was the last year for the Super Tourers in the BTCC. Muller drove for Vauxhall again while Jason Plato and Vincent Radermecker joined after leaving Renault and Volvo who pulled out at the end of 1999. The Frenchman finished as the top driver for Vauxhall in 4th in the championship behind all three Ford drivers (Alain Menu, Anthony Reid and Rickard Rydell).
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In 2001 the regulations changed to the new Touring Cars. Vauxhall debuted its BTC-T Vauxhall Astra Coupe for both the Vauxhall Motorsport team and Egg Sport both run by Triple Eight Race Engineering. The Astra was the car to beat against its competitors. Muller and teammate Plato fought for the championship the whole season. Muller finished 2nd in the championship after his car caught fire in the final race leaving Plato as the champion. 2002 BTCC would be much of the same. The Astra was the best car against Honda, Peugeot, MG and Proton despite some reliability problems throughout the season. James Thompson moved up to Vauxhall Motorsport after 2001 champion Jason Plato left to drive in NASCAR. Yvan finished 2nd in the championship again behind teammate James Thompson after more bad luck during the season and last few races caused him to again miss out on the title. He would again drive in 2003 for Vauxhall. The team now called VX Racing continued racing the Astra Coupe and also streached to a three car works Vauxhall/VXR team after Egg Sport was dropped. The Astra Coupe was again the car to beat and Yvan Muller and James Thompson again fought for the championship. Muller won his first title from teammate Thompson after a very strong season. 2004 would be the last year for the Astra Coupe. The Astra was challenged very hard in 2004 by Honda, MG and Seat making its debut with former Vauxhall driver and 2001 champion Jason Plato, but consistency lead both the VX Racing teammates of Yvan Muller and James Thompson to fight for the championship. Thompson won his second championship from Muller by one point. 2005 saw the new BTC-T Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch replace the extremely successful Astra Coupe for Vauxhall. The Astra Sport Hatch was out classed by the new Honda Integra and prevented Muller from winning a second title. He finished second in the championship for the 4th time in 5 years, making a decision at the end of 2005, Muller left the BTCC to drive for Seat in the WTCC.
V8 Supercar
editMuller competed in the two Australian V8 Supercar endurance races each year for a number of years, taking victory at the 2005 Sandown 500 with local driver Craig Lowndes in their Betta Electrical Triple Eight BA Falcon. In the same year, he was also involved in one of the most memorable incidents at the Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 1000, where in the lead, Craig Lowndes clipped the wall at Reid Park, and after a watts link change, another incident saw a wheel part company from Paul Dumbrell's car and hit the windscreen of Lowndes. In 2006 and 2007, Muller has been unable to race in the two annual enduros due to a clash with WTCC.
World Touring Car championship
editSEAT (2006–2009)
edit
On 12 November 2005 it was officially announced that he would be switching to the 2006 World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), driving for SEAT Sport. A pair of 2nd places in the opening meeting in Monza showed that he was a likely frontrunner, his first win then coming in round 5 at Brands Hatch. He was classified 4th at the end of the season with 62pts.
He finished 2nd in the 2007 WTCC with 81pts, and he lost the title to Guernsey driver Andy Priaulx (BMW 320si) during the last race in Macau where his SEAT León TDI suffered a fuel pump failure when he was leading the first race with one lap to go, which put him out of race 2 at Macau.[4][5]
He opened 2008 with a victory at Curitiba, Brazil.[6] Yvan Muller was battling for the championship, primarily with teammate Gabriele Tarquini during the season, and finally won the championship at the final round in Macau.[7]
In 2009, Yvan was beaten to the title by teammate Tarquini, taking four victories.
Chevrolet (2010–2012)
edit.jpg)
He moved to rival team Chevrolet in 2010.[8] He scored pole position and won his first race for the team in Brazil. He took further wins in Italy and the United Kingdom to become the 2010 World Touring Car Champion and the first driver to win the title for two teams.
Muller stayed with the team in 2011. At the end of the year he was champion once again after a close battle with teammate Rob Huff, matching Andy Priaulx's record of three WTCC titles.[9] Muller stayed with Chevrolet in 2012.
RML (2013)
editMuller stayed with the RML team for 2013 season, now racing as an independent entry after the withdrawal of Chevrolet from the World Touring Car Championship. He drove a Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T alongside former Team Aon driver Tom Chilton.[10] He won both races at the season opening Race of Italy in wet conditions to score his first victories as an independent touring car driver.[11]
Citroën (2014–2016)
edit.jpg)
In August 2013 it was announced that Muller would join Citroën Racing for the 2014 World Touring Car Championship season alongside nine–time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb in a two–year deal.[12]
Muller is founder and team principal of Yvan Muller Racing, which enters cars in various motorsport disciplines including sports car racing, and also helps to train young drivers.[13]
Muller announced that the 2016 season would be his last in the WTCC, as he was retiring from the sport to concentrate on his family and race team.[14]
Volvo (2017)
editDuring 2017 he took on a role as test- and development-driver for Polestar Cyan Racing. He returned to the championship to replace Nestor Girolami for the season finale in Qatar.
M Racing-YMR (2018)
editIn 2018 returned to full-time racing with a couple self-owned Hyundai i30 N TCRs for himself and Thed Björk. He finished runner-up in the drivers championship and M Racing-YMR was the teams champions.
Cyan Racing Lynk & Co (2019-2020)
editFor 2019 he returned to Cyan Racing driving one of four Lynk & Co 03 TCR.
Other racing categories
editHe primarily races in touring cars, but also participates in other categories. In particular, he has won the Andros Trophy Ice Racing Championship 10 times (a record), with 46 race victories (also a record).
During the early years of his career, he competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1993 and 1996, but did not finish. He was originally entered to take part in the 1999 race in an Audi R8C but withdrew from the squad before any official running.[15]
In 2007, he participated in the Dakar Rally. In 2009 (following the 2008 cancellation) he also participated in the Dakar Rally in South America, but he withdrew during the 5th stage.[16] He represented France in the 2007 Race of Champions, alongside Sébastien Bourdais. He participated in the Rallye de France–Alsace in a Citroën Xsara WRC, a round of the 2010 World Rally Championship.
Racing record
editComplete British Formula Two Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | DC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Omegaland | Reynard 92D | Cosworth | OUL 2 |
DON DNS |
BRH 1 |
THR 2 |
BRH 1 |
OUL 1 |
SNE 4 |
BRH 1 |
SIL 2 |
DON 6 |
1st | 58 |
Complete International Formula 3000 results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Omegaland | Reynard 93D | Judd | DON Ret |
SIL Ret |
PAU Ret |
PER Ret |
HOC Ret |
NÜR Ret |
SPA 11 |
MAG Ret |
NOG 5 |
17th | 2 |
Complete Italian Touring Car Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Audi Sport Italia | Audi A4 Quattro | MUG 1 4 |
MUG 2 5 |
MAG 1 2 |
MAG 2 2 |
MNZ 1 2 |
MNZ 2 2 |
BIN 1 2 |
BIN 2 3 |
MIS 1 4 |
MIS 2 3 |
IMO 1 4 |
IMO 2 3 |
PER 1 3 |
PER 2 4 |
PER 1 5 |
PER 2 Ret |
VAR 1 Ret |
VAR 2 4 |
VAL 1 4 |
VAL 2 6 |
4th | 187 |
Complete Super Tourenwagen Cup results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | AZK/ROC | Audi A4 | HOC 1 12 |
HOC 2 11 |
ZOL 1 10 |
ZOL 2 11 |
NÜR 1 20 |
NÜR 2 Ret |
SAC 1 13 |
SAC 2 6 |
NOR 1 11 |
NOR 2 19 |
WUN 1 Ret |
WUN 2 Ret |
ZWE 1 6 |
ZWE 2 6 |
SAL 1 6 |
SAL 2 6 |
REG 1 4 |
REG 2 4 |
NÜR 1 7 |
NÜR 2 6 |
7th | 298 |
Complete British Touring Car Championship results
edit(key) Races in bold indicate pole position (1 point awarded – 1998–2002 all races, 2003–present just in first race) Races in italics indicate fastest lap (1 point awarded – 2001–present all races) * signifies that driver lead race for at least one lap (1 point given – 1998–2002 just in feature race, 2003–present all races)
† Event with 2 races staged for the different classes.
Complete European Touring Car Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Alfa Romeo Team Nordauto | Alfa Romeo 156 | MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
BRN 1 |
BRN 2 |
MAG 1 |
MAG 2 |
SIL 1 |
SIL 2 |
ZOL 1 |
ZOL 2 |
HUN 1 |
HUN 2 |
A1R 1 |
A1R 2 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
JAR 1 |
JAR 2 |
EST 1 1 |
EST 2 6 |
24th | 66 |
| 2003 | SEAT Sport | SEAT Toledo Cupra | VAL 1 |
VAL 2 |
MAG 1 |
MAG 2 |
PER 1 |
PER 2 |
BRN 1 |
BRN 2 |
DON 1 |
DON 2 |
SPA 1 |
SPA 2 |
AND 1 |
AND 2 |
OSC 1 |
OSC 2 |
EST 1 17† |
EST 2 DNS |
MNZ 1 Ret |
MNZ 2 Ret |
NC | 0 |
† – Did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
Complete World Touring Car Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
† Did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
Complete World Touring Car Cup results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
WTCC statistics
edit| Season | Series | Team | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest laps | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | WTCC | SEAT Sport France | 20 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 62 | 4th |
| 2007 | WTCC | SEAT Sport | 20 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 81 | 2nd |
| 2008 | WTCC | SEAT Sport | 24 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 114 | 1st |
| 2009 | WTCC | SEAT Sport | 24 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 123 | 2nd |
| 2010 | WTCC | Chevrolet | 22 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 331 | 1st |
| 2011 | WTCC | Chevrolet | 24 | 8 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 433 | 1st |
| 2012 | WTCC | Chevrolet | 24 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 8 | 393 | 3rd |
| 2013 | WTCC | RML | 24 | 7 | 15 | 7 | 7 | 431 | 1st |
| 2014 | WTCC | Citroën Total WTCC | 23 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 336 | 2nd |
| 2015 | WTCC | Citroën Total WTCC | 24 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 357 | 2nd |
| 2016 | WTCC | Citroën Total WTCC | 21 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 257 | 2nd |
| 2017 | WTCC | Polestar Cyan Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 15th |
| Overall | 252 | 48 | 128 | 29 | 38 | 2934 |
24 Hours of Le Mans results
edit| Year | Team | Co-drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Didier Bonnet Racing
|
Gérard Tremblay Georges Tessier
|
Debora SP93 | LMP | 259 | DNF | DNF |
| 1996 |  Rocketsports
|
 Fermin Velez Andy Evans
|
Ferrari 333 SP | WSC | 31 | DNF | DNF |
Complete World Rally Championship results
edit| Year | Entrant | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Petter Solberg World Rally Team | Citroën Xsara WRC | SWE | MEX | JOR | TUR | NZL | POR | BUL | FIN | DEU | JPN | FRA 42 |
ESP | GBR | NC | 0 |
| 2011 | Yvan Muller | Peugeot 207 S2000 | SWE | MEX | POR | JOR | ITA | ARG | GRE | FIN | DEU | AUS | FRA 31 |
ESP | GBR | NC | 0 |
| 2012 | Yvan Muller | Mini John Cooper Works WRC | MON | SWE | MEX | POR | ARG | GRE | NZL | FIN | GER | GBR | FRA 14 |
ITA | ESP | NC | 0 |
Complete V8 Supercar results
edit| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | Final pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Holden Racing Team | Holden VT Commodore | PHI R1 |
PHI R2 |
BAR R3 |
BAR R4 |
BAR R5 |
ADE R6 |
ADE R7 |
EAS R8 |
EAS R9 |
EAS R10 |
HID R11 |
HID R12 |
HID R13 |
CAN R14 |
CAN R15 |
CAN R16 |
QLD R17 |
QLD R18 |
QLD R19 |
WIN R20 |
WIN R21 |
WIN R22 |
ORA R23 |
ORA R24 |
ORA R25 |
CAL R26 |
CAL R27 |
CAL R28 |
QLD R29 |
SAN R30 |
SAN R31 |
SAN R32 |
BAT R33 10 |
33rd | 120 |
| 2002 | K-mart Racing Team | Holden VX Commodore | ADE R1 |
ADE R2 |
PHI R3 |
PHI R4 |
EAS R5 |
EAS R6 |
EAS R7 |
HID R8 |
HID R9 |
HID R10 |
CAN R11 |
CAN R12 |
CAN R13 |
BAR R14 |
BAR R15 |
BAR R16 |
ORA R17 |
ORA R18 |
WIN R19 |
WIN R20 |
QLD R21 Ret |
BAT R22 Ret |
SUR R23 |
SUR R24 |
PUK R25 |
PUK R26 |
PUK R27 |
SAN R28 |
SAN R29 |
NC | 0 | ||||
| 2004 | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Ford BA Falcon | ADE R1 |
ADE R2 |
EAS R3 |
PUK R4 |
PUK R5 |
PUK R6 |
HID R7 |
HID R8 |
HID R9 |
BAR R10 |
BAR R11 |
BAR R12 |
QLD R13 |
WIN R14 |
ORA R15 |
ORA R16 |
SAN R17 Ret |
BAT R18 Ret |
SUR R19 |
SUR R20 |
SYM R21 |
SYM R22 |
SYM R23 |
EAS R24 |
EAS R25 |
EAS R26 |
NC | 0 | |||||||
| 2005 | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Ford BA Falcon | ADE R1 |
ADE R2 |
PUK R3 |
PUK R4 |
PUK R5 |
BAR R6 |
BAR R7 |
BAR R8 |
EAS R9 |
EAS R10 |
SHA R11 |
SHA R12 |
SHA R13 |
HID R14 |
HID R15 |
HID R16 |
QLD R17 |
ORA R18 |
ORA R19 |
SAN R20 1 |
BAT R21 15 |
SUR R22 |
SUR R23 |
SUR R24 |
SYM R25 |
SYM R26 |
SYM R27 |
PHI R28 |
PHI R29 |
PHI R30 |
38th | 192 | |||
| 2010 | Paul Morris Motorsport | Holden VE Commodore | YMC R1 |
YMC R2 |
BHR R3 |
BHR R4 |
ADE R5 |
ADE R6 |
HAM R7 |
HAM R8 |
QLD R9 |
QLD R10 |
WIN R11 |
WIN R12 |
HID R13 |
HID R14 |
TOW R15 |
TOW R16 |
PHI R17 |
BAT R18 |
SUR R19 13 |
SUR R20 15 |
SYM R21 |
SYM R22 |
SAN R23 |
SAN R24 |
SYD R25 |
SYD R26 |
NC + | 0 + |
+ Guest Driver
References
edit- ^ "Décret du 30 novembre 2019 portant promotion et nomination" (in French). Retrieved 15 June 2023.
- ^ Brown, Allen. "Yvan Muller". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ Brown, Allen. "Cathy Muller". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ "PRIAULX AND BMW WIN TITLES AGAIN". fiawtcc.com. 18 November 2007. Archived from the original on 16 November 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
- ^ "THEY SAID, THEY SAID..." fiawtcc.com. 18 November 2007. Archived from the original on 14 November 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
- ^ "Yvan Muller wins the season-opener". Autosport. 2 March 2008. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
- ^ "MENU WINS RACE 1, MULLER IS CHAMPION". fiawtcc.com. 16 November 2008. Retrieved 16 November 2008. [dead link]
- ^ Yvan Muller inks Chevrolet deal
- ^ Muller delighted with third title & looks for fourth in 2012[permanent dead link], TouringCarTimes.
- ^ "RML CHEVROLETS FOR MULLER AND CHILTON". World Touring Car Championship. Kigema Sport Organisation. 4 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ^ Hudson, Neil (24 March 2013). "Double victory for Yvan Muller at Monza". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
- ^ Hudson, Neil (7 August 2013). "Citroën sign Yvan Muller for a two-year deal in WTCC". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ "Le site Racing d'Yvan Muller". Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
- ^ "Yvan Muller calls time on World Touring Car career after 2016". 22 September 2016.
- ^ John Brooks. "Audi R8C". DoubleDeClutch.com. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- ^ "Stage 5 Withdrawals Dakar 2009". Dakar.com. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2008.
External links
edit
Media related to Yvan Muller at Wikimedia Commons
- Yvan Muller official website
- Yvan Muller career summary at DriverDB.com