Organisers to ditch weight-breaks

Currently, the championship issues discretionary weight waivers to individual manufacturers in an attempt to keep the field on an even keel, however the system has been criticised for being both opaque and unpredictable.

SEAT driver Gabriele Tarquini was one critic, telling Autosport last month: "Why would a manufacturer want to enter and spend six months making their car quick?

"They might as well build a bad car and wait for the waivers to help make them fast."

Under the new proposal, the handicap system would be written into the sporting regulations rather than left to the discretion of the World Touring Car Bureau, meaning that teams could anticipate both when a waiver would be issued, and how much it would be.

Adjustments would be based on the performance of the fastest two cars from each manufacturer, measured over three races. At the end of each three-race phase, predetermined waivers would be authorised where required.

FIA Touring Car Commission President Jonathan Ashman said: "Effectively, you are taking 18 calculations into account to work out the average. The Bureau will only be involved during the homologation process. Once the car is homologated, the Bureau is then out of it."

The new process is expected to be approved later this year.