The 2021 FIA World Touring Car Cup season will kick off at the toughest track in the world - the 25km Nürburgring Nordschleife - this weekend for Lynk & Co Cyan Racing.
Drivers Yann Ehrlacher, Yvan Muller, Thed Björk and Santiago Urrutia will face tough opposition behind the wheel of their Lynk & Co 03 TCR race cars:
"The 2021 WTCR is longer and tougher compared to last year and we can by no means relax as the reigning champions, rather the opposite," said Christian Dahl, owner and founder of Cyan Racing.
"We reached our goals last year with a historic double title and we have not lowered our goals for this year. We do however have to deliver at our very best in every single practice, qualifying and race heat this year."
Yann Ehrlacher is the reigning champion after a stellar 2020 season with the team and heads to Germany with a clear memory of last year's race there when he won the main race in style.
"I can't wait to start the season and to head out on the Nordschleife to set a qualifying lap right on the edge. I feel no pressure as the defending champion. The title from last year is mine and now I just want one more. I have really good memories from Germany last year, scoring one of the best wins of my career and we need to start this season just as strong," said Yann Ehrlacher.
Uruguayan driver Santiago Urrutia had the best season end of the Lynk & Co Cyan Racing drivers last year, winning the final race and stepping onto the podium in four of the last six races.
"The conditions for me this year are much better. I've had a proper pre-season with testing compared to last year, which was very much last-minute for me. We know that we are strong at the Nürburgring, but we don't need to stress as the championship is longer compared to last year. I am very much ready to get going," said Santiago Urrutia.
Quadruple world champion Yvan Muller finished as vice-champion last year and will start a record-breaking 16th world touring car season this year.
"I've said it many times before, but I only race to win. The competition will be tough again this year, but our package is as strong as ever. I'm glad the season is finally here so that we can let the action on track do the talking," said Yvan Muller.
Thed Björk will start his tenth consecutive season with Cyan Racing this year and the 2017 world champion is happy to start the season on the fearsome Nordschleife.
"For me personally the Nürburgring Nordschleife is the best possible place to start the season at. To drive relaxed on the edge of the toughest track in the world is the best feeling you can have. And I know that it's a well-used cliché, but the field this year really is stronger than ever and I'm using that as fuel to get prepared," said Thed Björk.
The 2021 WTCR Race of Germany, held during the iconic Nürburgring 24 Hour race weekend, starts on Thursday with free practice, followed by qualifying on Friday and two back-to-back races on Saturday.
Schedule
Times in CEST
Thursday - June 3rd
14:30 - FP1 - 40 min
19:00 - FP2 - 40 min
Friday - June 4th
14:05 - Qualifying - 40 min
Saturday - June 5th
09:00 - Race 1 - 3 laps
10:20 - Race 2 - 3 laps
2021 FIA World Touring Car Cup calendar
03-05 June – Nürburgring Nordschleife – Germany
26-27 June – Estoril – Portugal
10-11 July – Motorland Aragon – Spain
31 July-1 August – Adria – Italy
21-22 August – Hungaroring – Hungary
16-17 October – Inje Speedium – South Korea
06-07 November – Ningbo – China
19-21 November – Circuito de Guia – Macau
Media contact information
Johan Meissner
Press Manager
Cyan Racing
+46(0)70 241 3234
johan.meissner@cyanracing.com
About Cyan Racing
Cyan Racing was founded in 1996 and was formerly named Polestar until Volvo Cars acquired the performance section and trademark in 2015. Cyan Racing is privately owned and operated. The team has claimed the last four touring car World titles, most recently the 2020 WTCR drivers' and teams' titles with Lynk & Co – and participated in the development of the Polestar performance models of the Volvo S60 and V60 in the years 2013 to 2015, including the concept models Volvo C30 and S60 Polestar Concept Prototype. The company launched the Volvo P1800 Cyan in 2020, Cyan Racing’s interpretation of the iconic Volvo sports car from the sixties.
About Lynk & Co
Lynk & Co was created to provide mobility solutions for the connected generation. We do make really, really good cars (the kind that have all the features you want without you having to ask for them), but we also offer a new way of using those cars. Our membership-based approach makes it simple to get on the go. Members can access a car on a flexible, month-to-month basis and share with friends, family, and the Lynk & Co community.