Champion Muller dislikes new diesel rules

SEAT dominated the World Touring Car Championship 2008. But the newly crowned champion Yvan Muller thinks it will be very hard to repeat it next year.
“Unfortunately the FIA has reduced the turbo (pressure), and honestly that is not normal because the BMW was most of the time quicker than us. We can prove it with the sector times, and we are penalised,” said Muller to Autosport.

The turbo diesel-powered SEAT has been debated strongly during the season. BMW with Motorsport-boss Mario Thiessen has been one of the strongest voices against the 2008-diesel rules.

For 2009 the turbo pressure for the diesel have been reduced, but Muller does not think the turbo pressure of 2008 had anything to do with their success this year.

“We just won the championship because we did a real team effort. Many times a BMW was better than us in the first two sectors, but the driver made a mistake in the third sector and this is why we win.”

Muller says that the new regulated turbo pressure is too low, despite the SEAT’s being superior during the 2008-season on the straights and on the exits of the corners.

“If the rules stay like this, it will be very hard for any diesel SEAT to be at the level to win the championship. Maybe we can be at a better level by next season, but we don’t have much money to do testing. I think it will be hard, but everything is possible.”