Yvan, where did you get the idea from to set up the Yvan Muller Racing team?
It was a bit by chance really. My nephew, Yann Ehrlacher, was starting to nag his mother (former driver Cathy Muller) to take up karting but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Finally I bought him a kart behind her back (smiles), which meant he could practice but not race. I then got him into his first motor race and persuaded myself to buy a Mitjet so he could take part in the French Championship. However he went off to launch his career in Germany (in the Scirocco Cup) and I was left with a Mitjet on my hands! I decided to keep it for my sponsors, but someone asked if they could rent it. I then bought a second one and leased that out too. And then a third one and so on. But I still don’t have a car for my sponsors (laughs). That’s how it all began.

What made you go and buy LM P3s this year?
I wanted to try something different to the Mitjet and Supertouring. When the LM P3 class was introduced, I found the concept very interesting. It’s fashionable, it’s Le Mans, and I liked it! I went to try it out at Magny-Cours and was bowled over.

Can you tell us about the three drivers who will be competing in the European Le Mans Series in your Ligier JS P3?
I don’t want to be accused of favouritism so I’ll list them in order of age (laughs): Alexandre Cougnaud, Yann Ehrlacher and Thomas Laurent. The first two have a strong technical background and are putting together a good track record in motorsport. Thomas has had a fine kart racing career (he is KZ2 World Champion) and is now moving on to cars. I think it’s a good trio and it is just what I was looking for – young drivers who I can coach.

Is the aim of your organisation to build a sort of a pyramid in endurance disciplines? In other words, after LM P3, will it be LM P2 next?
I want to keep an open mind and am not looking to push them in any particular direction. If you had asked me about LM P3 a few years ago, I’d have said “no way”, so I’m not going to make any rash decisions on LM P2. If after LM P3, they decide they want to go elsewhere, I’ll follow them, even if it’s not in my team and they simply ask me to support them. My team is a Mitjet, Supertouring and LM P3 team. We’ll wait and see what the future brings.

Will we see Yvan Muller Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans one day?
If we ever move into LM P2, then Le Mans will obviously be a target. For the time being, we’re involved in LM P3 and it’s already a big step-up for our outfit! We’re not looking any further at the moment. We still have to learn the ropes in this discipline and we’ll see about the rest when the time comes!

Yvan Muller was interviewed by David Bristol / ACO
Translation from French by David Goward

PHOTO: LAVAL (MAYENNE, FRANCE), WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH 2016. Yvan Muller is happy running his own team as it prepares to venture into the world of endurance.