Retired champion Muller tests for Volvo in Portugal
Four-time World Touring Car champion Yvan Muller has become the latest in a list of potential candidates for Volvo’s 2017 driver line-up, after the former Citroen driver tested Polestar’s S60 at the Portimao circuit.
Yvan Muller, Citroën World Touring Car Team, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
FIA WTCC
Muller was spotted at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve by motorsport.com with the Polestar Cyan Racing team earlier this week, and took to the track behind the wheel of the Volvo S60 TC1.
The 47-year-old announced his retirement from the WTCC late last season, taking part in what was expected to be his last race for Citroen at Losail in Qatar, where he sealed second place in the drivers’ championship.
Muller admitted he still expected to be racing in some form and wouldn’t retire completely during a press conference at the event, and was to announce his plans at the beginning of the year.
“I had some proposals for next year, but I decided myself,” said Muller in November. “I always wanted to decide at the end of my career when to stop. I won’t say I will never race again forever, but I don’t want to do any more full seasons as a race driver.”
Muller’s involvement with Polestar’s test could indicate that the Swedish manufacturer has convinced him to come out of retirement already, with strong opposition expected from Honda, Rob Huff’s privateer Citroen and potentially another Gabriele Tarquini-led assault with a independent Lada programme this year.
It could also be that Muller is engaged in a development capacity. Volvo is yet to announce any of its drivers for 2017, but four-time STCC drivers’ champion Thed Bjork is almost certain to stay with the team.
Robert Dahlgren confirmed last week he has left the manufacturer, with the list of drivers known to be talking to, or under consideration for the team’s other two cars including Fredrik Ekblom, Nestor Girolami and Nicky Catsburg.
When contacted, Polestar Cyan Racing has said it won't comment on private tests - and has stated it will be announcing its driver line-up later this month.
Neil Hudson / TouringCarTimes
Additional reporting by Emmanuel Rolland
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