René Münnich to return to the WTCC in 2016

René Münnich will return to the grid of the World Touring Car Championship after one year away, back behind the wheel of the Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 he drove in 2014, competing with his own team.

The 38-year-old German scored two points finishes in his second full season in the championship as the TC1 class was introduced, whilst also fielding Gianni Morbidelli alongside him, who scored the team’s first pole position in Salzburg, and their third career victory at the Hungaroring.

The team fielded just one car for the majority of the season last year for Italian Stefano D’Aste, running a second car for one race only in Germany for Sabine Schmitz, with the Nürburgring Nordschleife expert scoring points on her WTCC debut.

The team have confirmed they will field just one car again this year for Münnich, who will also be contesting the FIA World Rallycross Championship in a brand new Seat Ibiza RX Supercar along with new signing Reinis Nitiss, and his team will also run a TCR Honda Civic in selected events to be decided.

The German took part in today’s test at Vallelunga, but was ninth fastest of those taking part, and was forced to cut the day’s test short due to an engine problem with his Chevrolet Cruze.