Polestar Cyan Racing ready to start title attack in Morocco

Polestar Cyan Racing head to Morocco this weekend with high expectations, as the Swedish manufacturer heads into its second full season in the WTCC intent on winning the title against Honda and a host of privateer Citroëns.

After what’s believed to be the most intense off-season testing programmes since Citroën joined the championship in 2014, the Volvo-equipped Polestar squad have expanded to three cars, and will run new signings Néstor Girolami and Nicky Catsburg alongside Thed Björk on the Circuit Moulay El Hassan street circuit in southern Marrakech.

“This is the start of my, as well as the team’s, most exciting season ever,” said Thed Björk. “We have never had conditions this good ahead of a season and to fight for the world title is a lifelong dream for me.”

Girolami has no knowledge of the Marrakech circuit, but has based himself right next to the Cyan Racing team’s headquarters in Mölndal in Sweden, where he has access to their Formula 1 grade simulator.

“I have done a lot of time in the simulator on this track and that helps a lot,” said Girolami. “But then, of course, you need to learn the track in real life and I have to do it methodically by going faster lap-by-lap, because a street circuit like Marrakech is very unforgiving to mistakes.”

Catsburg, who has moved across from the now defunct Lada team to Polestar this year, hopes to impress on his debut with the Swedish manufacturer.

“This is a great opportunity for me and with that I have one aim and that is to win the title,” he said.

“We need to keep in mind that we’re in a development race with the other teams. No one’s stood still over the winter period, so we need to see where we are this weekend in Morocco. We are going for the championship, which means we won’t take risks, we’ll be aiming to secure points and stay safe.”