Zanardi calls for tougher penalties

The BMW driver, who has won two races in the championship, thinks that there is too much contact in the category and believes that some drivers are deliberately playing dirty because they know they can get away with it.

And with nine drivers battling for the championship in the final round tomorrow, he thinks it is inevitable that some of those men will be left furious about a collision that eliminates them from contention.

"I am convinced that there are going to be some unhappy people after the race," said Zanardi. "With nine drivers going for the championship I am sure that on Sunday night at least one of them will be complaining that a bad bit of driving by someone else cost them the title.

"I wish someone would do something to stop the situation that we have right now. I remember watching the GP2 race from Turkey and I saw these two young guys, who are about 20, battle side-by-side for a whole lap and keep it clean. It was great to watch.

"But we in the WTCC, who are 40, can't seem to battle for one corner without having some contact."

He added: "I know that our cars have a bumper and it is obvious that we can use it, but there is a line that I think some drivers are stepping over. I think the stewards have got to start keeping things under control and taking a bit more action.

"I remember in Oschersleben, I took two guys off the road and on both occasions I did not do it deliberately. But I should have been more severely punished. Most of the time the stewards don't look into these matters because there are too many incidents taking place all through the field."