Changes to the Independents Trophy

The organisers of the World Touring Car Championship have announced some changes to this years Independents Trophy. Eight drivers that will be driving the entire season have been admitted to the championship for independent drivers. Drivers that have won the Independents Trophy in the past, like Tom Coronel and Stefano D’Aste, will be eligable to particpate in the championship again.

Félix Porteiro, that drove for the BMW works team last year and even won a race in the 2008 season, will participate in the Independents Trophy this year as well. The Spaniard will be racing for the Italian Proteam.

The Independents Trophy will award a total of 384,000 Euro of prize money.

The changes for the coming season is that the Independents will be able to gather more points. Eventhough the point scale for the races will remain unchanged, including the double points that will be awarded in the final meeting at Macau, the drivers can score a extra point for setting pole position and fastest lap at each event in the independents class.

Drivers that manage to finish in the top eight of the overall race results will be awarded three extra points per each WTCC point scored.