D’Aste starts with 2 point penalty

Last week we reported that reigning Independents’ Champion Stefano D’Aste had switched from Weicher-Sport to rival Proteam. The World Touring Car Championship organisers have now confirmed that he will be permitted to defend his title, but with a handicap.

Previous Independents’ winner Tom Coronel had been barred from competing as an independent in 2007, and it had been widely assumed that the same ruling would apply to D’Aste this year.

However due to the narrow margin of his victory – just two points seperated him from second placed Luca Rangoni – D’Aste has been allowed to defend his title, but will start with a 2 point handicap.