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Nicky Catsburg: “I was very lucky to find a drive”

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New Volvo signing Nicky Catsburg said he was lucky to find a drive for the 2017 World Touring Car Championship season, and is counting his blessings that he has a seat with a team that is set to be a key contender for the championship.

Catsburg was left out in the cold when Lada pulled the plug on their WTCC programme in November, which resulted in conversations with Volvo that resulted in Catsburg being signed by the Swedish marque alongside Argentinian star Néstor Girolami and the returning Thed Björk.

“(I was massively worried) as teams were signing up drivers and they were getting full, and I was sure I was going to be back with Lada,” said Catsburg to TouringCarTimes. “And then thunder struck in clear skies and we were so surprised that it was not continuing, including the management of the team.

“I feel very lucky that I was able to find a drive, and I’ve found a drive with what I think is the best team in the championship, so I’m super-happy with that.”

Catsburg, who will also compete in a partial sportscar programme throughout 2017 alongside his Polestar Cyan Racing commitments, said he’s glad to be back in the championship, which he’s seen in a new light since he was drafted in back in 2015.

“I’m happy to be back,” he added. “When I started WTCC one-and-a-half years ago, I didn’t really know what to expect. I never really rated WTCC, I know that sounds bad, but that’s how I saw it as a GT driver, but that first half-year totally changed my mind. It was so nice to try and become faster and better and really enjoy these kinds of the cars, and I think it’s a really good combination to do endurance and sprint racing.”

Catsburg has already been heavily involved in testing, which the Cyan Racing team have conducted secretly ahead of the start of the new season, which begins on April 9th in Marrakech, Morocco.

“Compared to the car I drove last year, it has a lot of strong points, but also a lot of similarities,” said Catsburg. “I don’t feel that it’s so much different to the other one, but I definitely feel that it’s better, and I just cannot wait to be racing with it. That’s when you know what the opposition has done during the winter and realise how strong you are, but it feels really promising.”