- published: 07 Sep 2011
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Yvan Muller (born 16 August 1969 in Altkirch, Haut-Rhin) is a French auto racing driver most noted for success in touring car racing. He is a three-time and the reigning World Touring Car Champion, winning the title in 2008 with Seat and in 2010 and 2011 with Chevrolet.
After competing in French Formula Renault and French Formula Three, he won the British Formula Two championship title in 1992 and competed in the FIA Formula 3000 Championship in 1993. His sister Cathy had previously contested four races in this category between 1986 and 1988
Muller won the French Touring Car Championship in 1995, and has also raced in the German and Italian championships, as well as doing a one-off in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC).
Yvan Muller started his BTCC career in 1998, taking the vacant seat left by Frank Biela at Audi. Yvan Muller finished 7th in the championship while his teammate John Bintcliffe finished 15th. Audi would leave at the end of 1998 BTCC and Yvan Muller moved to the Vauxhall Motorsport team run by Triple Eight Race Engineering (United Kingdom) for 1999 BTCC alongside John Cleland using the Vauxhall Vectra. Yvan Muller would win his first BTCC race at round 7 Brands Hatch. He would finish 6th in the championship while teammate John Cleland finished 13th. 2000 BTCC was the last year for the Super Tourers in the BTCC. Yvan Muller drove for Vauxhall again while Jason Plato and Vincent Radermecker joined after leaving Renault and Volvo. Yvan Muller finished as the top driver for Vauxhall in 4th in the championship behind all three Ford drivers (Alain Menu - Anthony Reid - Rickard Rydell).