NEW MBE Andy Priaulx has slammed the WTCC organisers for his extra success ballast in Brno tomorrow.
News of his honour in the Queen’s birthday list came while the three-time FIA world champion was preparing to race in the Czech Republic’s Massaryk circuit.
But due to the fact he won the last race in Pau, France, at the start of the month, he has to carry the highest penalty of 58kg of success ballast, three more than series leader Gabriele Tarquini.
‘It’s a nightmare,’ said Priaulx. ‘Because of the points I scored at the last weekend, they’ve given me more weight than Tarquini whose leading the championship. You can’t say I’ve been playing the strategy game – I try and go and win every race. It’s ugly. I don’t like this weight thing. It needs changing.’
The idea behind the success ballast concept is to try and make the racing as close as possible.
Theoretically the more success a driver has, the more weight he is given.
In the early years of the championship, BMW dominated the scene and the penalty system did give the other cars a chance.
But with the turbo diesel engined SEAT’S now the fastest cars in the paddock, Priaulx says the system is not required.
‘It was fine for five years when there was a big difference between the cars, but SEAT and Chevrolet are now on the pace, the weight is not needed any more,’ he said.
‘It’s already close.’
It is no coincidence that Tarquini, alongwith Yvan Muller and Rickard Rydell, who are in second and third place, all drive SEATs.
And with Brno’s long straights favouring the turbo diesels engine, SEAT looks set to rule the roost again this weekend.
The money is on Tarquini or one of the other SEAT drivers to end Priaulx’s reign as champion this year.
‘At the end of the day the best team will win at the end of the year and at the moment I’m feeling that BMW are still off the pace,’ said Priaulx.
‘Tarquini was really strong in Pau with a lot more weight than me. Every track suits a car with a stonking engine.
‘BMW don’t want to go down the diesel route, but they have got to do something.’
Priaulx is also hoping that he does not have a repeat performance of last year when he was pushed off the Brno track on the first corner of lap one and could not finish.
But he managed to come seventh in the second race.
‘Last year I came into Brno feeling really happy and I had the speed to take 18 points from the weekend,’ said Priaulx.
‘All I’m going to do is make sure I do my job. We’ve had a great testing and I’m feeling quite positive.’
Priaulx lies in fourth place in the championship on 33 points, 12 behind leader Tarquini.
Article posted on 14th June, 2008 - 9.30am
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