Introducing the WTCC’s lighter fighters

LADA and Polestar’s factory FIA World Touring Car Championship drivers will fight lighter when battle resumes at WTCC Race of China next week (23-25 September).

The trio of LADA Vestas and pair of Volvo S60 Polestar TC1s will run without compensation weight at the Shanghai International Circuit under regulations designed to equalise performance in the WTCC through a lap time difference in seconds calculation based on average lap times from the previous three race weekends.

While the Volvos ran with zero success ballast at WTCC Race of Japan, each LADA carried 50 kilograms, which works pilots Nicky Catsburg, Gabriele Tarquini and Hugo Valente suggested had hindered their ultimate pace.

Drivers of the Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 will also benefit from running at the 1100-kilogram minimum base weight in China having had 10 kilograms fitted at Twin Ring Motegi.

The compensation weight carried by the quintet of Honda Civic WTCCs falls from 80 to 60 kilograms but the Citroën C-Elysée WTCCs continue to carry the maximum permitted 80 kilograms.