Dumfries, Scotland (UK) — Saturday 11 July 2015; Legendary race ace Yvan Muller will contest World Rallycross of France at Lohéac with Albatec Racing in September. The four-time FIA World Touring Car Champion (WTCC), former British Touring Car Champion, and ten-time Andros Trophy winner will make his rallycross debut aboard one of the team’s 600bhp Peugeot 208 RX Supercars alongside Euro RX championship leader, and fellow Frenchman Jérôme Grosset-Janin.
Team-mate to Sébastien Loeb in WTCC, who also contested the French classic two years ago, Yvan has been released by Citroën to join the Dumfries–based team during a break in his schedule, and has already undergone a test with Albatec at Faleyras in France where he was immediately setting competitive times.
Yvan has also raced successfully in single-seaters and rallying, but Rallycross de Lohéac marks his first competitive outing in rallycross. His record-holding status in Andros 
Trophy looks likely to be a bonus for the 45 year-old, which similarly features a series of short, sharp, all-action heats and finals.
One of the most successful drivers in touring car history, Yvan will join Albatec at a second test at Lohéac in August, in preparation for round nine of the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy, when he will join a world-class field of rallycross drivers including reigning World RX champion and 2013 World Rally Champion Petter Solberg, winner of last year’s event.
Arguably the best-attended event on the World RX schedule, Rallycross de Lohéac broke all records in 2013 when Loeb competed, and last year more than 70,000 fans witnessed the non-stop action at the track in Brittany. Yvan’s participation this year looks likely to add further buzz to the frantic atmosphere the event attracts, with tickets already on sale from https://www.weezevent.com/fia-world-rallycross-of-france-round-9-loheac-rx-2015
For Albatec Racing, which this season is contesting the full British and European series, as well as several French RX rounds, the event marks a welcome return to World RX action, following its Lydden Hill appearance in May, with numerous other events on its programme for 2015.
Andy Scott, Albatec Racing Team Principal:
“I’m very excited about Yvan joining us at arguably the biggest rallycross event on the 2015 schedule. We had a great result there last year, reaching the semi finals, while in 2013 Kris Meeke showed everybody the potential of our Peugeot 208 RX Supercar.
“We head to the event on the back of a very strong start to our season, leading Euro RX with Jérôme and having success in Britain, and although rallycross is very competitive across all the championships we’re contesting, I’m confident that Yvan will be right up there from the start on his home track.
“We had a very successful test with Yvan, he’s totally committed, and obviously an incredibly fast and professional driver, who will I’m certain fit in very well with the team and indeed rallycross. Having an all-French line-up, aboard French cars, at the biggest event on the French rallycross calendar will I’m sure contribute to the amazing atmosphere the event always attracts.”
Yvan Muller:
“I’ve wanted to do rallycross for a long time, it’s been on my mind for four or five years, but I didn’t have the opportunity, the good opportunity, or the time to do it. I’m really looking forward to doing Lohéac, firstly it’s very well known in France, and rallycross now is at a high level, so I think it’s just the right time to do it. So yes I’m very pleased and looking forward to it.
“I don’t think we can compare ice racing to rallycross too much, yes ice racing is four wheel drive, but also four wheel steer, and on ice the grip levels are naturally much lighter. Of course, the comparison is closer from ice racing to rallycross, than from say circuit racing like WTCC, but it’s still quite different, so there are things to learn.
“The test with Albatec in Faleyras was good, very nice. It was my first experience, so I learnt and saw much more how rallycross is, what it’s all about. The track was quite greasy, quite slippery when we started, because we had a spot of rain but it was great.”
To see Yvan’s first experience of Albatec’s Peugeot 208 RX Supercar, click the link here https://youtu.be/w1v_FBhWXT0
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