Yvan Muller has confirmed this season will be his last in the WTCC, with the four-time champion stepping back to focus on his family and his own racing team, but says he doesn’t see himself stopping from racing entirely.

Muller, a 36-time race winner in the British Touring Car Championship between 1998 and 2005 before he made the move to the WTCC in 2006, where he’s since notched up 48 victories and four titles, one with SEAT and three with the RML Chevrolet team, has called time on his touring car career at the age of 47.

“I am not sure that age is the main factor when it comes to ending a career,” said Muller. “It’s more a matter of desire and motivation. With all the testing, the simulator sessions, the physical training and the travel to the race venues, a season of professional motor racing requires a level of personal commitment that I am no longer prepared to put in.

“At the same time, I am at a time of my life where I want to do something else and I am happy to be able to make that decision after eleven seasons of FIA WTCC. I’ve had some great experiences over my career. These three seasons with Citroën Racing have been particularly special, even though I never managed to be World Champion driver with this team, but I will always be proud of having helped to build our racing programme and develop the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC.

“I have also met some great people who are passionate about their job and have a fierce competitive spirit. Driving has been part of my daily life for so long that I can’t see myself stopping racing entirely. But I am going to spend more time with my family and developing my team, Yvan Muller Racing.”