Question time with Yvan.

As we are no longer driving the trucks to the WTCC races, it can be a little bit difficult to try and keep my blog interesting. This year, I have decided to try to include something new.
A couple of the drivers do have experience of trucks. Alex MacDowell is preparing to take his truck licence and also has sponsorship from ECM. And a man who already has a truck licence, Yvan Muller, who has sponsorship from TRANSPORTS TYM. I used my Truckie charm to ask Yvan a few questions related to trucks and here are his answers.

Yvan,s race helmet with Transports TYM graphic.

RT/  How old were you when you took your truck test and did you complete it at your first attempt? 
Is your truck licence still valid or has it expired? 
In the UK at aged 45, you have to take a medical every 5 years after that, is it the same in France?

YM/  I got my licence at the first attempt. I was 18 when I took the 19 tonnes licence and  21 when I took the big truck licence and I can drive a truck when I need to. In France, you have to take a medical every 5 years from age 21. When you reach 60, you then take a medical every 3 years.

  
RT/  When was the last time you drove a big truck on the road and do you ever help out at the family truck business, Transports TYM?

YM/  Last time I drove a truck was in April  when I went to Nogaro, France for the first race of the 2013 season with Yvan Muller Racing. 

Unfortunately, I am too busy and I do not have time to drive for TYM Transport.

RT/  Have you ever driven a race truck and trailer for one of the teams you have raced for? Which team and when?

YM/  When I was driving for Triple Eight Racing in the UK, I drove the race team truck once from the UK to Ireland, but that was a long time ago.

RT/  Have you ever had an accident in a truck?

YM/  No, never. 

RT/  Do you agree with the 90 KMH speed limit for trucks on the Autoroutes and motorways?

YM/  Yes. I think 90 kmh is fast enough for a big truck. 

RT/  Reversing a truck and trailer is…     
A/ Easy 
B/ Difficult
C/ It is part of our job, so we should shut up and just do it.

YM/  I think it is Easy, I was born to drive a truck ...

RT/  Have you ever had chance to drive a proper racing truck around a circuit? 

Can you describe it to me?

YM/  Yes. I drove a DAF racing truck at Jarama, Spain. That was nice. After the test day, the team wanted me to sign a contract because my performance was good. But I was with BMW at the time with their touring car. That was in 1995.

RT/  How important to you and other drivers is the overall appearance of the team race trucks and how do you think the race truck and trailer gives a message to the sponsors and fans? 
YM/  The Truckie is very important because he is in charge of the cars and all the equipment, between the workshop and the circuits. The truck is large and very visible and represents the team and the sponsors. It should be in very good condition and be clean and presentable.

Well, I hope that you find my little interview interesting and different from the normal questions that the drivers are asked. Thanks to Yvan for taking time to help me with this and I look forward to bringing you the latest Truckie news from Sonoma in September.