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Honda and SEAT TCR teams call for Balance of Performance rethink for Dubai

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The project manager of the Honda Civic TCR programme and the team principal of Craft-Bamboo SEAT have called for a Balance of Performance adjustment for Volkswagen ahead of the season finale at Dubai next month, after the German cars dominated at Zhejiang.

The two Team WRT Volkswagens of Jean-Karl Vernay and Rob Huff scored the race victory points at Zhejiang, with the Hyundais not eligible to score points as they were competing under temporary homologation.

In Race 2, after Huff and the WestCoast Racing Volkswagen of Gianni Morbidelli were able to get ahead of the Comtoyou Audi of Frédéric Vervisch for second after five laps, they closed down the SEAT of James Nash, who had built an eight second lead while the Belgian was defending, but the British driver was unable to stay ahead of the Golf GTIs.

“I pulled the gap and thought I was safe, but the speed of these VWs were outstanding and I couldn’t do anything more,” said Nash.

“The whole team and all the drivers put in a very valiant effort to come away with a podium, but ultimately we would expect more from a circuit like this,” said Craft-Bamboo’s team principal Richard Coleman. “I think that goes to show how extreme the swings in the BoP have become. It is a shame for all the teams concerned because I think they have all been affected by this, but I do think us more than others. I trust that the organisers will put in a plan for next year to ensure things are more equal from circuit to circuit.”

The Honda Civics of M1RA and Boutsen Ginion Racing also struggled for pace at the Chinese circuit, with seventh for Roberto Colciago the best result for the manufacturer.

“Attila Tassi’s results have been hugely compromised by the recklessness of others, and the speed of his and Roberto’s cars were affected hugely – and not for the first time this year – by a BoP that significantly penalises the Honda,” said JAS Motorsport TCR project manager Mads Fischer. “I hope the situation is assessed carefully before Dubai.”