Quadruple world champion Yvan Muller scored the last pole position of 2021 for Lynk & Co Cyan Racing at Sochi Autodrom in Russia, as WTCR title contender Yann Ehrlacher claimed a vital fifth on the grid.
"That was a big lap and an amazing qualifying session. It's a good place to start from tomorrow to fight for the teams' title and then I hope we can secure the drivers' title for Yann as well," said Yvan Muller.
Fifth position brought Yann Ehrlacher a single, but vital, point to his drivers' championship lead.
The reigning champion heads main title rival and Audi driver Frédéric Vervisch by 37 points with 50 left to fight for in the two races tomorrow.
"We scored one point and we are well-placed for the races, that was the main thing for today. Let's keep pushing and focus on getting everything spot on for tomorrow," said Yann Ehrlacher.
Santiago Urrutia was left frustrated after missing the Race 1 reversed grid pole position by just 0.165 seconds and will start from eleventh position in both races.
"I was quicker in Q1 but didn't have the speed in Q2, eleventh is of course not what we were hoping for. But it looks like it will rain tomorrow, so we will see what we can do from further down the order," said Santiago Urrutia.
Team-mate Thed Björk had an even worse session, ending up in 18th position despite a strong showing earlier during the day.
"This was not the qualifying we wanted and I am really far down on the grid. I think it was an issue with the car and we have to analyse this. We will no doubt have to fight hard tomorrow, but anything can happen in the WTCR finale," said Thed Björk.
Cyan Racing Lynk & Co (Ehrlacher/Muller) leads the teams' standings by 73 points over Cyan Performance Lynk & Co (Urrutia/Björk) and 75 points over Comtoyou Audi with 90 points still available.
The last two WTCR races of 2021 are held tomorrow, Race 1 starts at 12:15 local time/10:15 CET and Race 2 at 14:15/12:15.
Both races are broadcast live on: eurosportplayer.com
WTCR Race of Russia
Schedule
Times in MSK (CET +2H)
Sunday - November 28th
12:15 - Race 1 - 9 laps
14:15 - Race 2 - 11 laps
Standings - Drivers
1 Yann Ehrlacher 202 points
2 Frédéric Vervisch 165 (-37)
3 Esteban Guerrieri 164 (-38)
4 Yvan Muller 161 (-41)
5 Santiago Urrutia 160 (-42)
...
8 Thed Björk 130 (-72)
Standings - Teams
1 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co 363 points
2 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co 290 (-73)
3 Comtoyou Audi 288 (-75)
4 Münnich Motorsport ALL-INKL.com 281 (-82)
5 BRC Hyundai 246 (-117)
2021 FIA World Touring Car Cup calendar
03-05 June – Nürburgring Nordschleife – Germany
26-27 June – Estoril – Portugal
10-11 July – Motorland Aragon – Spain
21-22 August – Hungaroring – Hungary
08-10 October - Most - Czech Republic
16-17 October - Pau - France
05-07 November - Adria - Italy
27-28 November - Sochi - Russia
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.