Priaulx predicts Istanbul struggle

The reigning WTCC champion will have 80 kilos of weight added to his BMW for this weekend based on his recent results, but believes that the current system is too harsh on successful drivers.

"I'm not sure I'll be able to keep my championship lead after Istanbul," said Priaulx, "the maximum ballast is just too much."

The Guernseyman leads the championship by nine points from James Thompson, who had a disastrous weekend at the last round at Brno due to ballast, and struggled to make the top 20.

Priaulx added: "The 80 kilo ballast is much too high, it's like driving a single seater with the front wing broken. Unless I have a really good qualifying, it will be very difficult to reach the top eight."

Priaulx has said several times that with the ballast system, constantly winning races isn't possible, but he has surprised himself with some of the results he has achieved with a lot of ballast during the season.