Peugeot pushes for points rule change
The Peugeot World Rally team is pushing for a change in the points scoring system of the World Rally Championship for 2001, according to Autosport's sister publication Motoring News
The French outfit is hoping to run three 206 WRCs throughout next year, and as such would like to see a modification to the way in which manufacturer points are awarded. Currently teams must run at least two cars, and if more than two cars are entered, then only two of those entries must be nominated to receive points.
Peugeot team director Jean-Pierre Nicolas has suggested that the two highest placed cars should be awarded points instead, an idea supported by Prodrive's director of motorsport David Lapworth.
"The plus side is it will help young drivers," said Lapworth. "I think it'll make for closer rallies and closer competition. The downside is it would be difficult for teams on a limited budget."
The M-Sport-run Ford team has run three cars more often than any other manufacturers so far this year, but M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson was less enthusiastic about the possible change.
"It's unfair on new manufacturers," he said. "If you run a third driver it doesn't take away manufacturer points. At the moment you've only really got two teams in Formula 1 and we should avoid a situation like that."
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