Citroën WTCC chief rules out team orders

Factory Citroën duo José María López and Yvan Muller will be free to fight it out on track when the FIA World Touring Car Championship gets underway at the squad’s home event, WTCC Race of France, next month.

Speaking at the WTCC launch in Italy earlier this month, Citroën Racing head Yves Matton said there would be no team orders as the marque bids to defend the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ titles it has won for the last two seasons.

“I had the chance to win in our first two years without any team orders and I hope I can do that this year like we have done the previous years,” said Matton.

When pressed on how big a fight it would be between López, who is bidding for world title number three, and Muller, who starts the new season chasing a fifth world crown, Matton continued: “I have to say I was very lucky to have drivers like [them] doing the job in a really professional way. I am sure it will be like that this year. As Yvan said the first point is to make sure Citroën wins, that’s the most important point.”

Circuit Paul Ricard hosts the first competitive action of 2016 from 1-3 April.