Tom Coronel could switch to Münnich if ROAL leave the WTCC

WTCC stalwart Tom Coronel hopes to be on the grid next year for his 12th season in the championship, but could end up racing one of ALL-INKL Münnich Motorsport’s Chevrolet Cruzes if ROAL Motorsport are forced to leave the championship.

Coronel, who had a mixed season plagued by incidents and technical issues, following on from a positive 2014 season despite a memorable crash in the first round in Marrakech, is fully focussed on a return to the WTCC in 2016.

“There are two options on the grid here,” said Coronel to TouringCarTimes. “I want to be here, I’m talking with my sponsors as you can imagine, at the moment it’s positive, but nothing is concrete.

“In the upcoming weeks it’s time to get everything sorted and see what comes out of it.

“The options are with ALL-INKL (Münnich) and ROAL. It all depends on the budget.”

ROAL Motorsport are understood to require a second driver to be able to continue, and with Tom Chilton expected to leave the team next year, it’s possible the Italian team may not continue in the WTCC, which leaves Münnich Motorsport, also running the Chevrolet Cruze, as the Dutchman’s next best option.

“We’re not getting in the way of Tom Coronel and Roberto (Ravaglia), his preferred option is to stay there and I’m fine with that,” said Münnich team manager Dominik Greiner to TouringCarTimes.

“The plan for our team though is to run two cars next year. One full-time and one on a race-by-race basis for René (Münnich).”

Münnich himself has focussed on his World Rallycross Championship programme this year but kept his hand in touring car racing with four outings with the WestCoast Racing team in the TCR International Series.