Monza weights are set, though Ford hit with increase
The final two cars’ base weights have been set by the FIA Touring Car Committee, with SEAT’s new León WTCC and the Ford Focus S2000 TC given a base weight of 1,150kg, but the Fords’ will run with an additional 30kg penalty at Monza.
The Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T, BMW 320 TC and SUNRED León 1.6T, as the only cars taking part this season in the same specification as they did last year, have already had their base weights calculated by the FIA.
The Cruze’s base weight increases by 10kg this year to 1,160kg, whilst the BMW’s has dropped by 10kg to 1,160kg, which was previously running to a higher base weight on account of being rear-wheel drive.
Chevrolet will also carry the maximum penalty weight for the first two race meetings due to a new ruling for this year applied to the 2011 Championship winning model.
The new SEAT León WTCC will run at 1,150kg, as will the few cars run by SUNRED with their 1.6T engine, and both will be the lightest cars on the grid at Monza.
Arena’s Ford Focus S2000 TC’s base weight was also set at 1,150kg, but the FIA have requested that the team alter their suspension axles as they do not believe they’re in full conformity with the regulations, with Ford’s engineers having interpreted the rules differently.
As there’s no time for the team to alter the suspension before the third round of the Championship at Marrakech, the team have been granted a waiver for the first round this weekend but will have to carry an additional 30kg of ballast as compensation, which will be reviewed again at Valencia.
