Yvan is a veteran when it comes to racing. Spending time as a Formula 3 driver in the early stages of his career, he has found more success after the switch to touring car racing. The World Touring Car Champion took some time out for an interview with Global Racing Schools. We wanted to know everything about how he got to where he is and here was what he had to say.

Question: Yvan, you have achieved almost everything there is to achieve in Touring car racing. Being the BTCC, WTCC Champion and several 2nd places. What are your future goals?

WTCC is widely considered the pinnacle of Touring car racing. And I am just glad that at this point, I’m able to maintain my level of racing. The important part for me is that I’m still competitive enough to be fighting for the championship this season. So my future goal is to stay at this level as long as possible. The longer the better.

Question: In 1992, you became F2 Champion in 1992, you went to race in F3000 in 1993, but from then on you have been racing in a Touring car. Why did you make the switch to Touring Cars?

At the end of 1993, I practically ran out of money to remain in Single Seater Racing.

From 1988 – 1993, I was mainly racing in Formula 3 and it was very costly for me every season, as I had to pay for my drive. As I didn’t manage to win the Formula 3 championship, year by year, it was harder for me to find sponsorship. And after the poor Formula 3 season in 1993 with 9 races without a pole position, podium or fastest lap, I ran out of luck and money. So I was on the brink of being out of Motorsports, which was something that was very sad for me, as it was my only passion.

Luckily for me, French Squad Oreca Racing Team invited me for a testing session at Paul Ricard Circuit in a BMW Touring Car. At that point of time, I was elated and of course I said yes! I tried my best to impress and after the test they were very happy with me and proceeded to sign a contract with me for the French Touring Car Championship. That was how I started my Touring Car Career. That was the first time in my career that I signed a professional contract of my career to become a paid racing driver.

Without the guys from Oreca Racing Team, I doubt I’ll be racing Touring cars today.

Question: There are many kids out there struggling to find sponsors to fund their racing. What is the best kind of advice you can provide them?

That’s a really difficult one for me. As you know, I almost dropped out of motorsports because of the lack of sponsors. So I guess I’m not very good at it and I can’t really provide much information. But if I could really give some tips, it will be to use your time in motorsports to network.

You never know whom you’re talking to, so network as much as you can. That was how I got a chance with Oreca, through my racing contacts and network.

Question: If you had to rank these choices in level of importance, how will you rank it starting from the most important?

-                  Fitness Training

-                  Driver Training

-                  Psychological Training

-                  Race Experience

Here is how I would rank it:

• Driver training
• Psychological Training
• Fitness Training
• Race Experience

I am a firm believer of driver training. Driver Training is a lot more important than Race experience because once you get your fundamentals correct, anything is possible and you will excel in motorsports for sure.

Question: Looking at your record, you spent a considerable amount of time in Britain racing, Do you consider that the premier racing platform in Europe? What amateur series will you recommend young developing drivers take part in as a way to gain sponsors attention and also to train their race craft?

Yes, in Britain, the level of racing is very high. The sport is huge in Britain and many drivers from all over Europe travel to Britain to race and train. So that makes Britain an extremely suitable place to start racing and also a very cost effective place to find sponsors too. The cost of racing is Britain is lower than doing a series that travels to different countries for sure. It is perhaps the best competitive series in all of Europe. A Very Good Platform indeed.

Question: Is there anyone in particular that you’ll like to thank that helped you develop your race craft to the stage that it is today?

Yes. First and foremost I will like to thank my family. They were the one that gave me the money to race. They were the one that supported me for so many years where I was still struggling to find results and land a professional contract. All the time and effort they put in helped me get to where I am today. Once you get the support from your family, the rest is considered easy.

So for any aspiring racers out there, don’t forget to thank your family when you make it as a professional racer. Always remember it was them that were with you right from the beginning so give thanks to them constantly.

Question: Last but not least, any kind advice for the kids in relation to development of their careers?

The best advice that I can give anyone is to always keep your feet on the ground. Don’t think that just because you win a few championships then you’re simply the next best thing. When you’re humble, people around you are more interested to help you grow and support you to become a better racer. So don’t think you’re the best and always try to improve yourself through driver training.

Yvan Muller is now tied for 1^st place in the 2010 World Touring Car Championship. Global Racing Schools will constantly update news on Yvan as the season progresses. We will like to thank Yvan for spending his time with us and sharing this with us. All the best for the 2010 season.

To follow the success of Yvan Muller and engage in driver training, contact Daniel Charles -  charles@globalracingschools.com to customize the right training program for you to improve your racing.