WRC could introduce engine ballast

Richards, who is the chairman of the International Sportsworld Communicators company which promotes the WRC, has suggested that instead of the current two rallies-per-engine rule, ballast should automatically be placed on a car every time it uses a new engine.

Weight would then come off the ballast total for every rally that the same engine is used.

Currently, the FIA 'twins' ten rallies for logistical reasons, mandating that the same engine be used for each pair of linked events. If the engine is changed a time penalty is imposed.

The former BAR boss has promised to discuss the idea with the president of the FIA's World Rally Championship Commission Jacques Regis, with a view to it being approved by the governing body and possibly introduced as early as next season.

Richards told autosport.com: "One of the things we have to do to encourage teams to enter the sport is to extend the life of engines and transmissions.

"Rather than have a complex rule of time penalties for changing an engine, I'm proposing a system where 100 kilos are placed on the car for a new engine and that for every event the same engine is used an amount, say 10kg, is taken off the car.

"Certainly weight of 100kg could hamper a world rally car and it would provide a big incentive to develop a long life engine and gearbox. If there is a performance advantage gained by running a new engine then they will have to suffer with weight.

"The privateer teams who need to make their engines last longer will be given a weight break."