Ecosse slams GT rule

The system grades drivers in three categories according to their career record, with time penalties given to crews with one or more A or B drivers. Scuderia Ecosse's lead car, driven by Andrew Kirkaldy (A) and Nathan Kinch (B), is the only crew to receive the maximum 25-second handicap.

Team boss Stewart Roden said: "If you compare the lap times of Nathan and Jonathan, they're very similar, so why should we be penalised? We'll consider pulling out of the series if it doesn't change. We feel it's not worthwhile as it is - the penalty is insurmountable. We just want a level playing field."

Kirkaldy said: "Cocker is only four-tenths of a second off Sugden's pace, and he's a C. It's ridiculous. They would have won anyway this weekend, but they would have had to fight for it. If the organisers would look at it sensibly, we'd have a good series, but as it is, Tech 9 should win every race."

GruppeM driver Sugden argued that Cocker is ranked correctly because of his lack of experience. He said: "Jonathan is a 17-year-old kid in only his second year of racing. When we came into the series, we knew the rules, so we picked the best C driver we could find."

Series co-ordinator Belinda Edwards excluded a change in the rules, but said that Cocker's rating could be altered in the future. Edwards said: "The Ferrari is a beautiful car and we want the team in our series, but we can't change the regulations for specific teams.

"Jonathan is an exceptional case. You could argue he should be a B because he's very talented, in a quick car and with a very quick team-mate, but we're not supposed to take that into account. However, we're looking at his record, and he has little racing experience to speak of."