Success ballast to be reduced

As reported in this week's Autosport magazine, Jonathan Ashman, president of the FIA's Touring Car Commission and chairman of its Burearu, has stated that it is all but certain that the 80kg maximum, will come down to either 60 or 50kg in 2007.

Ashman also explained that he was looking at a number of alternatives to the system used this year.

"It is increasingly apparent that 80kg as the maximum is too much," he said Ashman.

"It has turned out to be a bigger disadvantage than we first thought. A minimum of 40kg is probably too low, so we are more likely to be looking at 50 or 60kg as the final figure."

Ashman would not commit to retaining the present two-tier ballast system, under which weights are determined by a driver's results at the previous race weekend and his score in the championship.

One idea he floated was a 'kilo per point' system, which would mean a driver would be unable to lose weight over the course of the season.

Reigning WTCC champion Andy Priaulx came out in support of the move.

"What we have this year is not working," he said. "I'd be much happier with a 60kg maximum. The most important thing to me is that the drivers going for the championship should be racing for victory, not for fourth or fifth position."