WTCC: Weight limits changed for Zandvoort

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The FIA Touring Car bureau has given all front-wheel drive cars a weight break for the next WTCC round at Zandvoort.

SEAT, Chevrolet, and Alfa Romeo will all have their minimum weight reduced by 25 kilograms for the Dutch round, after BMW dominated the first round of the season in Brazil.

However, a statement from the bureau indicated that the weight break would only be in place for one round, although it is likely that the performance of the cars will be analysed to see if any further action needs to be taken after Zandvoort.

While the bureau decided to change the weight limit for all front-wheel drive cars in the field, the BMWs will remain at the same weight that they were in Curitiba.

This means that the extra weight break of 15 kilograms that the German cars were given when BMW agreed to rolling starts for one of the two races remains in place.

However, SEAT driver Jordi Gene told autosport.com last month that he did not think the extra 15 kilograms was key to BMW's performance in Brazil, so it is unlikely to upset the rival teams too much.

BMW's performance advantage over their rivals had been clear again this week in official testing at Brno, where the rear-wheel drive cars clearly faster than the SEATs that were present.

Jordi Gene put in the most impressive performance in one of the Leons to be third fastest behind Andy Priaulx and Jorg Muller on day two, but the Spaniard was six-tenths of a second adrift of the reigning world champion.

Autosport