07 Oct 12

Practice
makes
perfect
for Muller

Multiple FIA World Touring Car champion Yvan Muller has made a strong start to the final day of Rallye de France Alsace this morning with a brace of top-five stage times in his MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

Local hero Muller, making only his third start in the world championship, was fourth quickest through Bischwiller-Gries and fifth fastest through the Haguenau street stage to maintain his grip on 15th place in the overall classification.

“We start step by step to know better the car,” said Muller. “The problem is I have to do another rally before this rally because it is too complicated to learn the car, be back in the pace notes and also to be in the rhythm. Today is better - the rally should be two days longer now.”

Muller’s fellow circuit racer Romain Dumas is 17th overall in a similar MINI. The former Le Mans 24 Hours winner reported a problem changing from fifth to sixth gear this morning.