López unsure of WTCC title chances

Defending champion José María López says it won’t be until qualifying for WTCC Race of France that he will know how much of a fight he will face to win the FIA World Touring Car Championship for a third season running.

López will emulate Andy Priaulx’s achievement of winning the WTCC crown three times in succession if he can outgun his rivals and top the points at the end of the year.

But the Citroën-driving Argentine isn’t taking anything for granted ahead of the trip to Circuit Paul Ricard in France next week when the 2016 season gets underway from 1-3 April.

“I really, really look forward to the first race of the year because you don’t know what will be your level and you don’t know what is the level of the other drivers,” said López. “The moment of truth is going to be qualifying and I am really looking forward to that.”

Of his WTCC title chances, López added: “I had a strong year in 2015, which means it has to be the same this year. People expect things from me, it’s normal, because you create your own way. We’ve worked really hard with the team and have had really strong years in 2014 and 2015. But every year is different so we will see.”