Gianni Morbidelli close to ruling out WTCC return next year

Hungaroring race winner Gianni Morbidelli fears his return to the FIA World Touring Car Championship may be just for one season, due to the lack of opportunities available next season for professional drivers outside of the factory teams.

Morbidelli, who returned to the WTCC after eight years away for the Münnich Motorsport team this season, took pole position at the Salzburgring as well as a victory in the reversed grid race at the Hungaroring, the only none-Citroën win in the European leg of the season, could be left on the sidelines with the Münnich team set to reduce to just one car for team principal René Münnich in 2015.

In Macau, Morbidelli finished in the points in the first race, but ended the second race in the barriers at Fishermen’s Bend, at what was admittedly one of his least favourite circuits on the calendar.

“There’s not a lot to say. I’m just sorry to finish the season this way,” said Morbidelli to TouringCarTimes, reflecting on his race weekend. “I don’t think we could have done much more starting from 12th position, which was my mistake in qualifying on the second set of tyres.

“During the first race I just tried to finish the race and save the car, but in the second race, Ma (Qing Hua) in front of me also lost the car there, then I also had big understeer and hit the wall.”

“I want to thank the team very much, it’s been a great season,” added Morbidelli. “We had ups and downs all year, but I can be satisfied with the season. I knew it would be difficult to start again in this category but they helped me a lot…now we have to think about next year, but I don’t know if there’s a future for me, as I don’t know what René will decide what to do, (at the moment) I think there’s only a very small possibility (to continue).

“From my perspective, it’ll great if I have a chance to stay here and carry on and use the experience I’ve had in one year, but I don’t see any possibility at the moment.”