Yvan Muller to drive Mini in France

Reigning World Touring Car champion, Yvan Muller, will compete in the MINI John Cooper Works WRC at Rally France in October.

The Prodrive WRC Team will run Muller alongside Dani Sordo in identical MINI WRCs at the Strasbourg-based tarmac event from 4-7 October.

Muller is a three-time World Touring Car champion and is currently competing in the 2012 series. While circuit racing is his speciality, he has also competed in the Dakar Rally, as well as competing at Rally France in 2010 and 2011.

Muller tested the MINI WRC at Prodrive’s proving ground in July and will spend a further day in the car at Prodrive’s track the week before Rally France.

Yvan Muller said: “I am really looking forward to competing in my home event in a top level World Rally Car after last year’s run in an S2000. I have only had a day to familiarise myself with the MINI, but the balance of the chassis immediately gave me a great deal of confidence. As both my Chevrolet touring car and the MINI use similar 1.6 turbo engines, the performance was nearly the same. I am sure it will take me a little while to get used to driving with pace notes again, even so my target would still be a finish in the points.”

Dave Wilcock, Prodrive WRC Team principal, said: “In Prodrive’s British Touring car days in 98, 99 and 2000 I engineered several cars and we had great battles with Yvan. This will be the first time we have been on the same side. He is a tremendously talented driver with great sympathy for a car and I think the MINI WRC chassis will suit him perfectly for the fast flowing stages in France. He has competed here twice before and once he has settled in for a few stages I can see him setting some impressive times.”