Revised Yokohama Trophy announced for 2015

In 2015, the Yokohama Trophy will get back to its original roots, announced today Eurosport Events, functioning as a category for independent teams.

This year the class has been reserved for drivers running the older TC2 cars, with all the drivers at the wheel of the new-generation TC1 machines competing for the outright championship, with independent and manufacturer entries not segregated.

In 2015 a total €240,000 of prize money will be at stake, with €20,000 allocated for each event. All independent competitors will be eligible for the trophy – and therefore the prize money.

Applied to this year’s grid, Citroën, Lada and the two Castrol Honda entries would be considered as manufacturers, whereas all of the Chevrolet drivers, Zengo Motorsport and Proteam Racing are effectively independent entries.

ROAL Motorsport team owner Roberto Ravaglia had called for a revised independents’ class just a month ago, and Eurosport Events announcement falls in line with the 1987 WTCC champion’s suggestion.

Eurosport Events CEO Francois Ribeiro confirmed that the trophy is going back to its original format.

“After a transition season in 2014 with a mix of TC1 and TC2 Turbo cars, we will reallocate our resources to support private TC1 teams next year, by offering them a prize money, dedicated classifications, podiums and promotion, as Eurosport Events has successfully done since 2006 with Yokohama.”

On top of this, the team running the Independent champion’s car will be granted a free full-season entry for 2016.

From next season, the Championship is set to be for the new TC1 cars only, with TC2T cars the mainstay of the FIA European Touring Car Cup.