WTCC: Maiden pole for diesel powered Muller.

[Rory Phoulorie]

Sunday, 7th October 2007

Yvan Muller makes more history with the SEAT Leon TDI at Monza with pole position.

Although his name has been a regular fixture at the front of the timesheets this year, Yvan Muller is only now able to celebrate his first ever World Touring Car Championship pole position after leading a dominant diesel performance at Monza.

Making the most of his diesel-powered SEAT Leon's pace in a straight line and combining it with some slick work by his team-mate Jordi Gene and Gabriele Tarquini to maximise their potential with slipstreaming, Muller stormed to pole position by four tenths of a second to place him in a good position to move up the standings.

Although SEAT's decision to switch Muller to diesel earlier this year raised eyebrows in light of his title aspirations, five point finishes out of the six races he has competed with the car has justified that decision.

While that comes with a penalty of success ballast, the even distribution of the dead weight means the competition amongst the leading drivers remains very close.

Now having started on the front row three times this season, Muller has a chance at a second win this year with Gene and Tarquini potentially keeping his competition behind him.

�I'm particularly pleased to get pole because previously I have missed out on it by very small margins. It's now another thing ticked off the list. What makes it even better is that it came out of great team work.

�Getting the top three positions with the diesel engines is great and feels like a reward for the risk we took in changing from petrol. Tomorrow could be a crucial day for the championship and I'm happy I have two team-mates with me.�

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