Yvan Muller, Citroën Total WTCC
François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, WTCC promoter
Sabine Schmitz, ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport

Q:
The Nürburgring Nordschleife is one of the highlights of the WTCC season. What makes it so special for you as a driver?

YM:
Yes, it’s absolutely a highlight. It’s difficult to go back to this amazing circuit. This circuit has so much history since 1927 I think. It’ a very particular circuit and even more when you are driving on it. It was the first time for me last year – even for my age it was the first time! I am really looking forward to going back there, even if when you drive on this track you lose some time of your life!

Q:
Last year the track was new for all of the drivers, now you know it much better. How strong will the competition be?

YM:
For sure every driver knows more the circuit but we still don’t know the circuit. You need probably 100 laps to know it properly – Sabine knows it more than me! We did 15-20 laps maximum last year and that’s why I was there last Thursday and Friday to do some more laps to learn a bit the circuit with a normal car, not with a race car unfortunately. It’s an amazing circuit and I hope to improve myself there this year.

Q:
What about car set-up – what are the differences compared to other regular WTCC tracks?

YM:
The set-up is very different. The sure thing is it’s impossible to find the perfect set-up because the track is so long and there are so many different corners, so much different Tarmac that you can’t have the perfect set-up. So you just have to find the best compromise as possible.

Q:
What about this season for you – is beating your Citroën team-mate José María López your main goal?

FR:
Yes!

YM:
My aim is to win the race but for sure López is one of the best drivers with the best car so he’s the target. But the season is not over and we will see.

Q:
On the 24h race weekend you have to change the time schedule and even the race format. Why is it that you are so keen on racing at this special weekend nevertheless?

FR:
I think it was worth the effort! I remember when I was a kid I was always told to go to bed with a dream and wake up with a plan. Two years ago it was a dream to bring WTCC on the most beautiful circuit on the planet and I think it was a dream for ADAC to bring a world championship back to the Nordschleife after a 30-year absence. We made it together and I am so grateful for what we have done with ADAC Nordrhein and the DMSB. Everybody told us it was impossible, it will never work, it’s a circuit for GT cars but I think Yvan won the Main Race last year by a 0.173s gap, which was something quite good after the best touring car race we have ever made for the last 10 years. I think definitely it was worth the effort. This year again we have made an extra effort to bring the European Touring Car Cup at the back of the WTCC and again they found a solution. There is always a solution to every problem and we are very grateful for everything we have done together.

Q:
The MAC3 format was newly introduced for the 2016 WTCC season. Will this team time trial we have known for a long time from cycling also be used at the Nordschleife?

FR:
Of course, specifically on the Nordschleife. Three drivers racing together. Motorsport is very individual. I am not a cycling fan but Eurosport is broadcasting a ton of cycling. I was watching last year a team time trial and I said there is no reason why we should not import this to motorsport and to the WTCC. I think Yvan was one of the first drivers I spoke to, then the other drivers, the teams, the FIA – nobody said no, everybody said it could be complicated but let’s see, let’s have a go. Finally, this year we have three drivers racing together. They win together or die together if one of them is making a mistake they penalise his time, which is something very new to motorsport. The time of the third driver counts, not the first one. So if Pechito [José María López] is going one second away it’s completely useless for the team. I cannot wait to see it on the Nordschleife how the tactics will play between the drivers. It’s a long straight, slipstreaming each other – Honda is even planning to push each other to see if they can win a bit of time. I told them if you do this I promise you will have the helicopter live just 40 metres above your head because this will be really something else.

Q:
The Nordschleife is a highlight not only for the drivers but also for TV production. What special highlights will the TV audience look forward to this year?

FR:
It’s a job we do with _wige, it’s a co-production, it’s not Eurosport 100 per cent and it’s the only race we produce in the championship with somebody else. They do a super job and they have a super deal with RTL. We are very happy for the Nürburgring 24 hours because for me it’s the biggest motorsport event in Germany and if the event is to keep racing as the biggest motorsport event in Germany, media is absolutely key so they are in very good hands with RTL. We use _wige’s trackside cameras, we use our own on-board system and helicopter system, we bring helicopters from cycling, from the Tour de France actually, because for me the Nordschliefe is not a circuit, it’s nearly a rally stage or a cycling stage. So we bring different skills to produce what we have done last year, which was a very brilliant I must say.

Q:
You’re back in the WTCC for one race only, what do you think you can achieve?

SS:
Difficult to say! I try to do my best like always. The last race last year was so much fun. Tenth place overall was not the best result but I was very happy with that and I could go faster with every stint I did. Hopefully there is something left in my brakes because the Porsche is such a different car to drive compared to the Chevrolet. I want to do my best and I pray for the rain.

Q:
It’s going to be a very busy weekend for you with your filming and 24h-Rennen commitments, which means you will miss Testing and Free Practice 1?

SS:
Yes, it’s a disaster I know! For sure I am a little bit worried but they tell me they want me in the team so I’m back, no problem! It’s like it is. I can’t change anything. We have a very necessary studio shot to do for Top Gear and I can’t say I am not there so I will miss that.

Q:
You said you were crazy to be going up against the guys again without much more experience than before – are you completely cool with that?

SS:
Sure! I like the car. It’s really difficult to drive because it’s so soft and you need a special set-up. But the set-up is never right because the track is so long and so difficult to drive. But I think a soft set-up is always good to have a lot of traction. I saw when I had the fight with Jaap van Lagen last year I remember I had a little better traction out of the corners and I work on that so it can be a little bit more.

Q:
Why do you keep saying you want it to rain?

SS:
When it’s wet I have really good results even when I have been driving on hard tyres. I have a very good feeling for the track in the wet. Last weekend in the Porsche GT3-R I started 22^nd and I managed to go to fourth place. In the rain I am always very competitive.