Photo: WTCC Media

Michelisz discusses possibility of switching cars

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This year’s WTCC Yokohama Independent Trophy winner Norbert Michelisz discussed the probability of leaving behind his title-winning BMW for another make.

In a lengthy interview given to totalcar.hu, Michelisz hinted his team, Zengő Motorsport, might be switching cars from 2013 or 2014. The Hungarian driver explained still having an approximately three to four tenths of a second potential in the BMW per lap on averge, its relative overall pace is getting behind the rest of the field, especially in straight-line top speed.

BMW Motorsport officially left the WTCC at the end of 2010 to focus on its DTM program, finalising the 320 TC car as far as homologation is concerned and has run as such in the past two years.

“I wouldn’t have been able to give an answer to the question a year ago whether I felt more comfortable with front or rear-wheel drive, but now it is quite obvious for me that rear-wheel drive is my cup of tea,” said the Hungarian driver his affection to BMW, which is the only rear-wheel drive car currently in WTCC. “It’s a lot bigger challenge to drive an RWD car, but at the same time a lot more enjoyable as well.”

Michelisz spent multiple years driving front-wheel drive SEAT Leons and his first WTCC win was scored in one in 2010.

Although the driver said he would not necessarily prefer going back to front-wheel drive again and praised the BMW 320 TC as being a “brilliant platform”, which “feels like home”, this might change in the near future.

“There are still question marks around Zengő Motorsport sticking to the BMW in 2013, yet it is still the strongest possibility. At the same time, even if the car is still competitive for the 2013 season, one should consider the 2014 rule changes and the alterntive to switch to a car with more potential – despite the fact that I favour rear-wheel drive – to aim for the WTCC title in the future.”

Michelisz said Zengő Motorsport is currently in talks with Chevrolet and SEAT, with Honda being a further possibility in the future.