Chevrolet to appeal gearbox ruling

Central to its argument is the fact that in switching the cars of Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus from five-speed manual to six-speed sequential boxes, the works cars were allowed to run 30kg lighter than previously.

This means that Priaulx and Farfus, who locked out the front row at Okayama using the six-speed units, are now 25kg lighter than the Chevrolet Cruzes and 45kg lighter than the SEAT Leon TDIs.

Prior to 2010 the only BMW driver to have used a sequential box in the WTCC - and been eligible for points - was Alex Zanardi. The part was homologated for the Italian on account of his car being specially adapted with hand controls.

However, teams agreed to allow independent driver Andrei Romanov to use a sequential box earlier this year. Now all BMWs have been given the green light, with the two works cars plus the Team Engstler machine of Franz Engstler following suit at Okayama.

As of Monday morning, Chevrolet has 48 hours to lodge the appeal, after which a date can be set for it to be heard.