Suspended penalty for Yvan Muller

Yvan Muller has been hit with a suspended penalty for the incident in race two at Donington Park which saw the reigning champion move ahead of Chevrolet team-mate Rob Huff early on in the race.

Today’s results therefore stand, which means Yvan Muller has become the fourth driver in the Championship’s history to win both races at the same weekend. though unlike Rob Huff’s achievement earlier at Monza.

“It’s a good weekend. Two victories was important to catch some points back off Rob for the Championship, especially after what I lost in Porto. But the season is still long so we’ll see,” said Muller.

“It’s important because if we don’t close the gap with Rob the Championship would be finished in two or three meetings and then it’ll be boring.”

Yvan Muller hit Rob Huff at the end of the first lap heading into the final corner whilst executing as pass on Darryl O’Young’s independent Chevrolet. Although Huff continued, he lost the place to Muller, who went on to take the win.

“I hit Rob and I overtook at the same time, but he hit me at Porto and he passed at the same time, and like many other people during the race they push(ed) other people and pass at the same time. Of course it was not intentional…let’s see what the stewards say.”

Championship leader Rob Huff’s perspective on the incident differed from his team-mate’s.

“It’s exactly as he said, he hit me from behind, he took advantage of it and he overtook me. It’s gone to the stewards without anyone having to prompt it,” said Huff, slyly referring to the last race in Porto where the incidendent between Huff and Muller wasn’t investigated.

“As Yvan said in Porto, if that’s allowed then that’s allowed and we’re going to have some serious bumper cars for the rest of the season.”

The stewards have deemed Yvan Muller at fault for the incident, quoting Articles 42 and 44 of the WTCC’s Sporting Regulations.

Muller’s penalty is that of a three-place grid drop, suspended for two races. This echoes the penalty Muller received after he collided with Alain Menu at Monza, though on that occassion Menu retired and the penalty was ten places suspended for two events.