British Touring Car Championship changes race two grid format

Officials decided after the annual teams' meeting last week that they want to revert to setting the grid position for race two by using the finishing positions from race one.

During this season, the fastest lap times from race one were used to determine race two line-up and it led to some drivers sacrificing race one if they had qualified poorly, starting from the back and purely going for lap time. That will be eradicated by the switch back to the old system.

BTCC series director Alan Gow said: "The teams felt that with the increase in ballast that we had at the start of 2015 for the top 10 finishers in race one and with the added element of the soft tyre, there was no need to use lap times for race two.

"We will go with it, but if it doesn't work in 2016, we could always look at other options."

The series has also tightened up its procedures for any new TOCA BTCC Licence (TBL) applications.

"TOCA also advised the teams that applications for any TOCA BTCC Licence (TBL) that may become available will only be considered if accompanied by complete details relating to the additional car, driver and funding," said a BTCC statement.

"Should a TBL application be approved and any of the details provided subsequently change prior to the season starting, TOCA may immediately withdraw the licence and reissue it to another applicant."