FIA President Jean Todt has acknowledged José María López’s capture of his third FIA World Touring Car Championship title.
Writing in his monthly correspondence, President Todt wrote: “We saw our first FIA world champion for 2016 crowned at the WTCC Race of Japan last weekend, with José María “Pechito” López winning his third consecutive world title”.
López, who drives for the factory Citroën team in the world championship, finished fourth and second in the two races at WTCC JVCKENWOOD Race of Japan last weekend
José María López is the provisional FIA World Touring Car champion for 2016 subject to official FIA confirmation. This is because the WTCC promoter, Eurosport Events, has made a request to the FIA Touring Car Commission to cancel WTCC Race of Thailand, which will mean the championship will run over 11 events rather than 12, subject to final ratification by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.