After three dominating seasons in the WTCC, Citroen and the C-Elysée withdraw from the event.

The final meeting of the 2016 FIA WTCC season, in Qatar, marked the end of Citroën Racing’s involvement in the championship. 

The Citroën C-Elysée WTCC claimed its fiftieth victory in three seasons, and in his farewell to elite motorsport Yvan Muller secured second place in the World Championship, behind his teammate José María López. Citroën’s track racing adventure has come to an end after three consecutive world titles.

José María López clocked the fastest time in Q1 on Friday with 1m59.788s, one second faster than the time that secured him pole in 2015. 

In Q2, Yvan Muller and Pechito López immediately claimed the top two positions, before the red flag was brought out. When the action resumed, López once again dipped under the two-minute mark, enough to put him top of the timing screens again, just ahead of Muller.

Q3 was an unusual affair. Mehdi Bennani was first out and set a good pace. Norbert Michelisz then crashed out, causing a long delay. After the interruption, both Yvan Muller and José María López were looking good, but both slipped up at the same turn. The few tenths of a second that those errors cost them meant the Argentine driver had to settle for the third best time, with the Frenchman in fourth. It was Mehdi Bennani who then clinched the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC’s 31st pole position.

A few minutes later, the SLR team’s three drivers were out on track representing Citroën in MAC3. Bennani, Tom Chilton and Grégoire Demoustier produced a flawless performance to score maximum points for the manufacturer.

The opening race got under way long after night had fallen in the Middle East. Having finished tenth in qualifying, Tom Chilton was the man in pole position, with Gabriele Tarquini alongside him. When the lights went out, Chilton was the first man to turn, while Yvan Muller managed to haul himself into fifth place. Back in the chasing pack, José María López was run into by Tiago Monteiro. The Portuguese driver ended up crashing off, which brought the safety car out, followed by the red flag.

Once the track had been cleaned, the race got under way again. Tom Chilton went wide on the first bend and Tarquini took advantage to sneak past. A little further back, Yvan Muller moved up one more place into fourth. Tarquini emerged victorious in the opening race, ahead of Chilton, Huff and Muller. Pechito López staged an impressive recovery to finish ninth.

Fortunately, the team’s mechanics had time to repair the cars’ bodywork before the final race of the year. Pole sitter Bennani maintained his lead at the first turn, with López just behind him after an excellent start from the second row. Muller held on to fourth place, with Thed Björk in third.

The chasing pack was once again full of incident, and the safety car made an appearance after just one lap. A few drops of rain then came down, but certainly not enough to justify rain tyres. Shortly after the race resumed, Muller was ousted from fourth after a powerful overtaking manoeuvre from Michelisz.      A few laps later, López was passed by Björk.

It looked like the race order would remain unchanged until the end: Bennani, Björk, López, Michelisz, Muller. But with just a few laps to go, Tiago Monteiro got the better of his friend and rival Yvan Muller. For Yvan, however, this result was not important. The race marked the end of a magnificent career which has included winning four FIA World Touring Car Championship titles and breaking all the records in the discipline. Upon returning to the pit lane, he received a long ovation from the members of the Citroën Total team. There were red eyes all round, showing just what an emotional moment this was in the history of motorsport.

CITROËN IN WTCC IN FIGURES (2014-2016)

• 35 meetings and 69 races
• 31 pole positions (89%): 21 for José María López, 8 for Yvan Muller, 1 each for Sébastien Loeb and Mehdi Bennani
• 308 starts: 69 for José María López, 68 for Yvan Muller, 47 for Sébastien Loeb, 46 for Mehdi Bennani, 34 for Ma Qing Hua, 22 each for Tom Chilton and Grégoire Demoustier
• 50 race wins (72%): 28 for José María López, 11 for Yvan Muller, 6 for Sébastien Loeb, 2 each for Ma Qing Hua and Mehdi Bennani, 1 for Tom Chilton
• 45 fastest race laps (65%): 26 for José María López, 8 for Yvan Muller, 7 for Sébastien Loeb, 2 for Ma Qing Hua, 1 each for Mehdi Bennani and Tom Chilton
• 119 podium finishes (57% of the maximum possible): 47 for José María López, 34 for Yvan Muller, 20 for Sébastien Loeb, 8 for Ma Qing Hua, 5 each for Mehdi Bennani and Tom Chilton
• 246 points finishes (80%)
• 3,736 points scored in the Drivers’ World Championship
• 3,029 points scored in the Manufacturers’ World Championship

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY

Yves Matton, Team Principal, Citroën Racing: “This was the Red Army’s last appearance in the FIA WTCC. I would like to thank every member of the team for their commitment, their constant thirst for improvement and their willingness to represent Citroën in what was a new discipline for the team. 

I will cite two figures to demonstrate Citroën Racing’s know-how: 89% of pole positions and 72% of race wins in three seasons. 

Thanks must go, too, to José María López and Yvan Muller. 

I have been lucky enough to work with these two great champions, who are also great men. And I cannot help thinking of Sébastien Loeb and Ma Qing Hua, who also contributed so much to this success, which I will always remember as an amazing adventure for the people involved.”

José María López: “It wasn’t an easy last race for us! To a large extent, the result was determined in qualifying. We felt that the track changed during the long delay. 

In any case, we can be proud of what we have all accomplished together. Tonight, I’m not really thinking about me. I’m thinking about Yvan. I want to thank him for what he has given me. 

I have learnt a lot from working with him and I have enormous respect for him. He has decided to bow out of motorsport while he’s still at the top and I wish him all the best in his new life.”

Yvan Muller: “There are lots of feelings swimming around in my head, particularly after Pechito’s words and the team’s celebrations. 

It wasn’t an easy decision to take and this is an emotional moment for me. All good things must come to an end and I am happy to be retiring now, with these opponents around me. 

We have had some tough scraps at times, but there has always been respect between us, and that’s why I love this sport. My overwhelming feeling is one of joy. 

I’ve got lots of things to do, what with my team, developing young drivers, and my family. I will have plenty to keep me busy!”

DS Virgin Racing is determined to show what it can do in Marrakesh, after missing the opportunity to win the season-opener in Hong Kong.

DS Virgin Racing is determined to show what it can do in Marrakesh, after missing the opportunity to win the season-opener in Hong Kong. For the team, round two is all about capitalising on the undoubted pace of the car and drivers to get points on the board.

Despite both cars qualifying on the second row of the grid in Hong Kong, DS Virgin Racing came away without scoring any points in the opening race of the 2016-17 Formula E season. The team is focused on rectifying this at the second round of the championship, as Formula E makes its debut in Africa at the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan.

Marrakesh is a track of significance to DS Virgin Racing, both to its drivers and engineers. “I’ve raced and won here three times before with the WTCC,” explains José María López. “It was a touch narrow. But then again, a Formula E car takes up less room than a WTCC car, so it should be a good fight.”

The team’s engineers have a history of racing and winning in Marrakesh and are confident this will give them an advantage. DS Virgin Racing’s track simulator testing has also revealed that the top achievable speed for a Formula E car is 210 km/h, faster than the WTCC’s 205 km/h.

The track is a dramatic departure from Hong Kong – twelve turns to Hong Kong’s nine and over half a kilometre longer. As the longest track on the Formula E calendar, the challenge for Marrakesh will be tactical battery preservation – something that Sam Bird displayed masterfully during Hong Kong, leading the pack for several laps before the car change.

This weekend’s Marrakesh ePrix coincides with the COP22 Summit: a meeting of the world’s leaders on sustainability and climate change. In tandem, DS Virgin Racing will be hosting an Innovation Summit in front of the team garage on 10 November, featuring international panellists discussing EVs and sustainable technology.

“We’ve gone to space, we’ve done biofuel flight and we were the first to go non-stop solo around the world. Virgin is all about making sustainability fast," states Team Principal Alex Tai. 

Pechito and Sam Bird arrive in Marrakesh with a point to prove after Hong Kong. “As far as I’m concerned, this is race one now. Let’s put points on the board,” explains Sam Bird.

Citroen readies the 2017 Formula e car by releasing more info to tempt the public into watching the third season.

In anticipation of the launch of Formula E’s third season, beginning 9 October in Hong Kong, DS Virgin Racing has released a thrilling video to unveil its Season 3 livery.

Shot over 10 hours in thunderstorm conditions in the abandoned streets and walkways of Manchester’s Media City, the video opens with a panning shot through a lightning storm and across a pitch dark harbour. Out of the darkness emerges a hint of the DS Virgin Racing car, complete with new Season 3 livery.

DS Virgin Racing driver Sam Bird - winner of three pole positions in the 2015-16 season and fourth ranked driver globally for Formula E appears alongside DS Virgin Racing’s new driver José María López.

López is a nine-time world champion across seven different racing categories, known in the racing community and his Argentinian homeland as “Pechito”, or ‘The Cold One’ for his aggressive driving style. The pair walk through the darkened streets before the footage cuts to the cars, alternately screaming through abandoned streets in the rain and speeding around corners, reflections of the updated livery sliding off glass buildings and wet roads.

The big reveal comes after 60 seconds, where a driver performing 360 degree water-spraying doughnuts dramatically unveils the DS Virgin Racing season 3 livery, complete with a unique new pattern effect stretching across the chrome and a brighter, more vibrant version of purple, which has become the signature colour of the team in Formula E.  The new front wing, in a stacked double decker design is also a stunning addition to the racing car and looks amazing in the colours of the DS Virgin Racing team.   

  

Throughout the video, shifting slow and rapid motion cuts between stuttered audio and bassy electronica. Weaved between all of this is the unmistakable, turbine-like whine of the Formula E engines as the cars tear through the silent streets: hinting at the pop-up, street takeover nature of Formula E race tracks.

The anticipation is now building with less than three weeks to go until the beginning of season three of motorsport’s newest creation: Formula E in Hong Kong.

The Citroens win again in the latest rounds of the WTCC in Morocco.

On a circuit where overtaking is virtually impossible, the Citroën Total team drivers managed to improve on their starting positions. With podium finishes in the first race, José María López and Yvan Muller leave Morocco feeling satisfied with their performance. With a third of the season now complete, Citroën and López maintain their leads in the FIA World Touring Car Championship standings.

In the opening race, Yvan Muller was the best placed Citroën driver on the reverse starting grid, setting off from fifth. The four-time World Champion got an excellent start, as did Pechito López, who found himself up alongside his teammate. The two C-Elysée WTCCs were neck and neck until the Argentine got the better of the exchange.

The first lap saw James Thompson pushed off the track by Hugo Valente, with Nick Catsburg also going straight on at a bend. Valente took the lead ahead of Coronel, López, Muller and Monteiro. Valente was then handed a drive-through and his rivals all moved up a place.

José María López made several attempts to get past Tom Coronel, who held him off in a car some 80kg lighter. The top 10 remained unchanged for the last 15 laps, proving that it is impossible to overtake under normal racing conditions on this new Marrakech circuit.

In the late afternoon on Sunday, the drivers lined up on the grid for the main race. This time, José María López and Yvan Muller started from fourth and fifth respectively. The few drops of rain that had fallen pre-race turned into a shower, causing all competitors to put on their wet tyres.

When the lights went out, Rob Huff and Norbert Michelisz were the first men to turn one, with Tiago Monteiro and José María López neck and neck behind them. Pechito managed to snatch third position, while Yvan Muller completed the leading pack.

On the fifth lap, Pechito made a rare error. His wheels locked at turn 10, forcing him to let Tiago Monteiro slip past. For the rest of the race the top 10 remained unchanged for 12 laps.

This weekend’s results extend José María López’s World Championship lead by two points. Yvan is in sixth position, four points short of the top five. In the Manufacturers’ standings, Citroën continues to lead the way, with a 39-point advantage over its nearest rival.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY

Yves Matton (Team Principal, Citroën Racing): “I am satisfied with the team’s overall results.

We might not have won, but this is only the third time that has happened to us in twenty-eight FIA WTCC meetings. Thanks to solid races from José María López and Yvan Muller, we have conceded only one point in the Manufacturers’ World Championship and we still have a healthy lead. Pechito also strengthened his position in the Drivers’ standings. We leave this circuit sorry that there was not more of a spectacle for the Moroccan crowd and delighted that we will soon be tackling the biggest challenge of the year, the Nürburgring and the Nordschleife.”

José María López: “My second place in the opening race was an excellent result given my grid position. The first lap was like a street fight. Thereafter, I knew overtaking would be impossible. I stayed close so as to be ready to seize the slightest opportunity, but I had to manage the tyres and the brakes too.

In the main race, I managed to get the better of Tiago, but then it was my turn to make a mistake. Still, I’m satisfied with my weekend. The aim was to stretch my lead at the top of the World Championship, and I have done that. We mustn’t relax, as our rivals have never been closer to us.”

Yvan Muller: “I’m a little surprised with my podium finish in the opening race. I didn’t think there would be so many incidents in the first lap, but that’s what enabled me to climb from fifth to third. However, it was impossible to overtake after that, even if you were much quicker than the car in front. The main race was very tricky in the rain. With the different road surfaces and the painted sections, the track was extremely slippery. I even thought I was losing a wheel when my car skidded on a straight section! It’s not been an exceptional weekend, but it has been a positive one for me and for the team.”

With a pair of one-two finishes on the Hungaroring track, the Citroën C-Elysée WTCCs secured maximum points.

With a pair of one-two finishes on the soaked Hungaroring track, the Citroën C-Elysée WTCCs secured the maximum possible points haul to propel the Citroën team to the top of the Manufacturers’ World Championship. José María López also extended his lead at the top of the Drivers’ standings after his third main-race win, while Yvan Muller claimed his first podium finish of the year.

As forecast, a wave of cold, rainy weather set in overnight. As soon as they arrived in the paddock, the drivers and engineers got to work adapting the setup of the Citroën C-Elysée WTCCs to the changed track conditions.

By the time the cars lined up on the grid for the opening race however, the rain had stopped. After two reconnaissance laps, Yvan Muller and José María López opted to put on their slicks. Approaches among their rivals differed, with some opting for rain tyres, or even a mixed setup, with slicks on the front wheels and rain tyres at the rear.

When the lights went out, Mehdi Bennani took advantage of his rain tyres to take the lead, ahead of Yvan Muller. After a few turns, the four-time World Champion’s car went into a slide, allowing two rivals to pass him. With no grip whatsoever, Yvan continued to drop down the standings, finding himself out of the points along with José María López.

While Mehdi Bennani controlled the race, the other Sébastien Loeb Racing drivers were also performing strongly in the pack. Tom Chilton drove brilliantly to climb to second place, while Grégoire Demoustier chased after seventh.

With no chance of scoring any points in the opening race, Yvan Muller and José María López headed for the pits to put on rain tyres for the main race. The race ended with Mehdi Bennani and Tom Chilton securing a one-two for Citroën, with the maximum possible points.

The weather conditions remained relatively unchanged for the main race, the meeting’s big finale. This time, all the drivers chose to use four rain tyres. Starting from pole position, José María López made a perfect start, as did Yvan Muller, who climbed from eighth on the grid to third by the first turn.

On lap 2, Muller moved past Rob Huff. A few seconds later, the safety car came out after Grégoire Demoustier crashed off. When the race resumed, López and Muller held on to their lead, but the gaps closed up mid-race, suggesting an exciting finish was in store.

On lap 9, Rob Huff grabbed second place after running into Yvan Muller while braking. After an inquiry, the stewards decided to hand a drive-through penalty to the Briton, and the driver of Citroën C-Elysée WTCC No. 68 duly regained his former position.

The two teammates continued to dominate until the end of the race, crossing the finish line in first and second. This second double of the weekend saw Citroën take top spot in the Manufacturers’ World Championship, with a forty-point advantage over the second-placed team. Having led the Drivers’ standings since qualifying, José María López extended his lead to 12 points.

The next round of the FIA WTCC will take place in Marrakech, in Mehdi Bennani’s home country, from 6 – 8 May.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY

Yves Matton (Team Principal, Citroën Racing): “This pair of one-two finishes represents our best ever result at the Hungaroring. 

The rain and tricky track conditions made the races eventful affairs, with lots of overtaking. Yes, we didn’t make the best decision by opting for slicks in the opening race, but it was the best option on the grid, as there was no more rain forecast. In the end, it was the private drivers who scored the points for Citroën. 

Congratulations to Mehdi and Tom, who took advantage of their shrewd choice to give the Sébastien Loeb Racing team a well-earned double. In the main race, Pechito and Yvan produced a perfect performance, showing that the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC was well and truly the best car in these difficult conditions.”

José María López (Citroën C-Elysée WTCC No. 37): “When it came to deciding what tyres to use for the opening race, we were hesitant between various options. I based my strategy on that of my rivals for the championship. That was a mistake, but it didn’t have huge consequences. My win in the main race was one of the trickiest of my career. 

I never felt totally comfortable, particularly when I was put under pressure first by Yvan, and then by Rob. Obviously, the penalty handed to Huff gave me a little breathing space at the end of the race. I am really very happy to have won in these conditions. Race after race, there are new pitfalls to evade, and we managed to evade them successfully in this race.”

Yvan Muller (Citroën C-Elysée WTCC No. 68): “I don’t think I’ve ever driven in conditions with so little grip. It was worse than black ice. I got a great start in the main race and was third on the first bend and second a little later on. I was battling it out with Pechito and that allowed Rob to come back at me.

Meanwhile, José had opened up a bit of a gap, and it was too late to catch him. Once you give Pechito a lead, there is no catching him. I’m happy to have got my first podium of 2016 and I’m happy for the team, because that was a great overall result.”

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: DRIVER STANDINGS

1. José-María López: 106 points

2. Tiago Monteiro: 94 pts

3. Mehdi Bennani: 77 pts

4. Rob Huff: 60 pts

5. Yvan Muller: 54 pts

8. Tom Chilton: 40 pts

14. Grégoire Demoustier: 7 pts

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: MANUFACTURER STANDINGS

1. Citroën: 263 points

2. Honda: 223 pts

3. Lada: 133 pts

4. Polestar: 66 pts

José María López secured his second successive FIA World Touring Car Championship title.

By claiming pole position and victory in race one, José María López secured his second successive FIA World Touring Car Championship title* with the Citroën Total team. 

The Argentine driver was joined on the podium by his teammates Sébastien Loeb and Ma Qing Hua, who also took second and third positions in race two. The Citroën C-Elysée WTCCs had started the day in style by achieving the unprecedented feat of occupying the top five places in qualifying. 

The manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles may be sewn up, but Citroën is keeping up the suspense: Yvan Muller and Sébastien Loeb are now separated by just two points and will battle it out for the runner-up spot in Qatar.

With no real hierarchy having emerged after Saturday’s free practice sessions, the drivers turned up for qualifying needing to lay their cards on the table. Drawing on what they had learned the previous day, the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC drivers took the top five positions in Q3 for the first time. For the sixth time this season, José María López was the quickest man on track, followed by Sébastien Loeb, Yvan Muller, Ma Qing Hua and Mehdi Bennani in that order.

By late afternoon, the main stand of the Chang International Circuit was packed as the cars lined up on the starting grid. The weather conditions were extreme, with temperatures of 33°C, 60% humidity, and a track temperature of 45°C.

When the lights went out, José María López got off to a perfect start. He reached the first turn in the lead, followed by Sébastien Loeb, with Ma Qing Hua and Yvan Muller neck-and-neck behind them. Muller, as it turned out, would not make it much further. After being run into by two other drivers, he was forced to return to the pits with a broken rear-end assembly. Mehdi Bennani took advantage of this to move up into third.

Once the safety car had been and gone, Ma Qing Hua got the better of the Moroccan driver, and there would be no further changes to the top four before the finish. Despite coming under constant pressure from Sébastien Loeb, José María López clinched his ninth race win of the season. In doing so, he scored the points he needed to secure a second consecutive FIA World Touring Car Championship title.

The celebrations would have to wait, however, as the drivers were immediately back out on track for race two. Once again, the start was a chaotic affair. Yvan Muller was forced to pull out at the very first turn after a collision with Ma Qing Hua. Michelisz led at the end of lap one, with Monteiro, Chilton, Loeb, Qing Hua and López in pursuit.

The race was full of incident, with plenty of overtaking. Sébastien Loeb gradually worked his way up the field into second place. Picking up the pace, he was right on Monteiro’s tail when the red flag was brought out due to fading light.

Loeb had to settle for second position, with Ma Qing Hua and José María López, who had both pulled off some impressive overtaking manoeuvres of their own, in third and fourth respectively.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY

Yves Matton (Team Principal, Citroën Racing): “After winning the Manufacturers’ World Championship in Shanghai, it is a great joy to see José María López claim another drivers’ title. It is just reward for a season of consistently excellent performances. It might not be the most significant event of the day, but I will take away especially fond memories of our exploits in qualifying, where we took the top five places. With only five of our cars competing, that is pretty hard to beat! It shows the team spirit we have, which enables us to keep progressing and improving together. Race 2 ended in frustrating fashion, however: had the red flag not come out, Sébastien Loeb might have been able to push for victory.”

José María López: “I am so happy to have won this second World Championship title. Last year, people focused on the fact that mine was the first title for an Argentine driver since Juan Manuel Fangio. But this year, I’m thinking first and foremost about my family, who have sacrificed a lot for me to be able to come and race in Europe. I started my career at the age of 23. After all these seasons, my passion remains undiminished and retaining this World Championship title is a massive achievement. I would also like to thank the Citroën Racing team, who gave me a chance and have given me carte blanche to compete hard against my prestigious teammates. I think the standard has gone up a level this year. That is probably why I’m feeling even more emotional than I did in 2014. I want to savour this moment.”

Sébastien Loeb: “Congratulations to Pechito on another title! Working with him is a pleasure. We have had a great working relationship for nearly two years now. But beating him is just as hard as ever! I ended up with two podium finishes, so I’m happy with my day, but I’m a little frustrated too. Without the red flag, I could probably have gone after Tiago and challenged him for victory. I’m now right up there with Yvan in the championship standings. Anything is possible and I’ll be going to Qatar aiming for the World Championship runner-up spot!”

Yvan Muller: “It’s a good thing qualifying was scheduled for Sunday morning. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done much driving today! What can I say? Obviously, I’m disappointed to have ended up with two DNFs after two early-race collisions. But that is the nature of our sport. In any case, I was already out of the running for the championship. Congratulations to José on his title. He’s had the perfect season.”

Ma Qing Hua: “I’m happy for Pechito; he really deserves his title. He has been terrific this year, but I’m happy to be his teammate because I’m learning a lot from him. It was a tough day, with very small gaps between drivers. We put in a lot of work after qualifying and I was lucky enough to pick up two podium places in the races. That means I’m still sitting in fourth place in the overall standings, but I’ll have to keep pushing hard till the very end!”