Citroën boss Yves Matton believes Honda will be their biggest threat

Although all the pre-season talk has been about the performance of Polestar Cyan Racing, with the Swedish team having shown great pace at the Vallelunga pre-season test, Citroën Racing’s team principal Yves Matton says it’s Honda he’s the most concerned about ahead of 2016.

Honda ran one car at Vallelunga, with Norbert Michelisz doing all the running in the interim Civic WTCC, while the team have been testing privately ahead of the season opener this weekend at Paul Ricard, and Matton believes that the Japanese manufacturer has more pace than they’ve been showing.

“(I think our closest challengers) will be Honda,” said Matton to TouringCarTimes. “They have the experience, they’ve changed the driver line-up, they’ve driven a lot in the winter, they are the main manufacturer which will be with us I believe.”

The Belgian wasn’t totally dismissive of the other two manufacturer efforts either, but believes experience will hamper Volvo on their return, while Lada will be left playing the reverse grid for surprises.

“With Lada, it’s quite difficult to say,” he added. “In the past they’ve had good results, but in quite specific conditions, I think they can do it again, but only in specific conditions.

“For Volvo, it will be new for them. The drivers do not have experience in the championship, the team have good touring car experience but not in WTCC, so it’ll be a challenge for them for sure.”