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The rule that saved a series from "dull" F1 issues

Bickering over the merits of standard parts in the BTCC misses the point that the cream still rises to the top at season's end - and that's got a lot to do with the brains on the pitwall

Engineering

Our experts' guide on how you can become a better racing driver

There are three words guaranteed to infuriate and frustrate the average tin-top racing driver: Balance of Performance. The method of artificially restricting a machine so that it sits on a level playing field with the opposition is something that generates anger and confusion in similar levels.

For engineers, there are just two words that can make the heart sink: control parts.

The premise is simple. By mandating that specific elements of a race car's componentry become standardised, it closes down certain avenues that could lead to vast amounts of spending. But on the flip side, it blocks many routes by which creative brains can find ingenious solutions to overcome a car's deficits.

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