24/6/03

Yvan Muller currently enjoys a lead of 31 points in the drivers’ championship – the biggest advantage he has held at any point since the start of the 2001 season. He has also been on the podium in each of the 10 races so far this season, winning five of these races. However the multiple ice-racing champion does not appreciate the tactics employed by some of his rivals in their attempts to overtake him.

In both races at Rockingham, Muller clashed with MG driver Anthony Reid, and the pair had hesitation in making it clear how they felt towards the other. A frustrated Muller said, “There is contact and then there is contact… You will always have contact in touring cars because the lap-times are so close and all of the cars are close together, but what is not nice is what he (Reid) does. He just pushes you and then one or two seconds later you are off and he is past. That is very easy to do…”

In a bid to defend himself, Reid responded, “It’s only what you were doing to me at the previous corner!”

Muller continued, “So it’s exactly what I did to you the next lap. It is easy to overtake somebody when you do it like this. I can give it out as well.”

In another dig at the Frenchman, Reid added, “Let’s be fair, in the past we know what you’re like sometimes. You go a little bit over the top.”

Muller’s annoyance at Reid became clear when he was interviewed on the podium following the first race at Rockingham, albeit in a somewhat jovial tone.

Muller’s determination has been evident during each of the past two seasons, when he has only lost out in the championship battle to his team-mate at the final meeting of the season on both occasions. In 2003 he is undoubtedly more confident and more at ease than at any time in the past two seasons. With the lead that he currently enjoys, it will take serious forces to halt Yvan’s charge for the title.

With regards to Reid, Muller will let his on-track form do the talking – he took a win and a 3rd at the weekend. His victory in round 10 came after Reid spun out from the race lead…