Comtoyou Racing hint at action over TCR’s “unacceptable” BoP

Front-running Belgian team Comtoyou Racing have hinted at action and perhaps withdrawal of their two Audi RS 3 LMSs from the TCR International Series, after the latest Balance of Performance changes at the Hungaroring apparently gave the edge to their Volkswagen and SEAT rivals.

The team scored just one point on race day, with Stefano Comini finishing tenth in the second race after qualifying down in 16th, dropping from the lead of the standings to fourth.

“We are the only car where it’s not consistent,” said Comini to TouringCarTimes. ”The BoP is too high for us. On a track where we know we’ll be shit, they give a better BoP to the Volkswagen and the SEAT guys. For us, it’s like at Monza, a track that’s good for us, if they gave us 10kg less. Sometimes I think the system is a bit strange.”

Comini was involved in a battle with the Honda of Jens Reno Möller during the first race, with the Swiss unhappy to find himself battling to keep back the championship mid-fielder.

“I told the team on the radio if Möller overtakes me, I’ll stop the car. For sure, he’s a good driver, but sorry, that’s too much,” he added.

The team were even more direct about their dissatisfaction with the weekend, with the team posting to their social pages:

“New rules to play with, quite strange in the middle of the championship. Not sure yet that Comtoyou Racing will take ‘any further action’ in the next race…wait and see!”

Speaking to Speedweek, Belgium, team principal Jean-Michel Baert said:

“I do not understand and do not accept to change the ‘Balance of Performance’ without any sporting reason. Nunzia Corvino, sporting & series director told me ‘Well, the BoP was modified following the results.’ So it’s a BoS, a ‘Balance of Success’ and not a BoP”, he declared.

“I do not want to have an advantage, I just want to go back to a BoP that worked relatively well before Budapest. I’m OK to see my team lose, provided we have had the same chances as our opponents.”