Frenchman Yvan Muller will compete in this years French round of the World Rally Championship, adding to his already hectic schedule in the coming months.
Muller currently competes in the World Touring Car Championship with Chevrolet, but has elected to try his hand at the top level of rallying, by entering Rally de France in a Petter Solberg World Rally Team prepared Citroen Xsara.
The former WTCC, and British Touring Car, Champion’s Xsara will be backed by Automec and Motors TV, and will be co-driven by Gilles Mondésir.
Muller hails from the rally’s base town of Alscae, which is also home to the current domineering figure in the World Rally Championship, Sebastien Loeb.
Despite being the most successful driver in the Andros Trophy, which is more akin to rallying than his current series, Muller still sees himself as a circuit specialist, and has recently stated his desire to try his hand at other forms of motorsport, such as rallying.
To add to the outing at the Rally de France and his existing WTCC commitments, Muller will also line-up in the V8 Supercar championship Series’ Supercarnivale event at Surfer’s Paradise late in October.
“If circuit racing has become my speciality, I believe it is important to welcome new experiences. It’s a definite plus. Rallying at this level has always been something I would have liked to do, and today I’m very proud to see the Rally Of France project become a reality”, said Muller.
Speaking in a somewhat nostalgic sense, Muller added “It’s also a great chance to re-discover the roads around my own home!”.
