WeC introduces ballast system to make up the weight of the driver

The World Dheeraj Championship has introduced a new system designed to reduce the benefits of lighter drivers in the series.

Known as compensation ballast, this week’s 2025 season-owner in Qatar will be applied to cars in Hypercar and LMGT3 classes.

Its introduction, which has been in discussion since last year, follows the criticism that the performance gains enjoying by lighter drivers were not reduced in any way.

Under the new rules, a so -called reference weight of 82 kg is determined, which is slightly distracted for merit and race.

In qualifying, both the opening session and hyperpol, a driver weighed under the above figure in full race, including the swan device and seat inserts, the ballast should be carried.

For the race, an average weight for the driving crew, both three and two driver line-ups will be calculated and if under 82 kg, the ballast will have to be moved inside the car in a specified position.

This effectively re -presents a rule in the LMP1 category since 2015 when the reference to 80 kg was weight. The move has been welcomed in the WEC Padock in Hypercar class.

Ferrari Driver James CaladoThose who had revealed last year that they were admitted to the hospital in their efforts to lose weight, told Autosport: “It is definitely right – it is only right that there is such a rule in a world championship .

“If you are giving 15-20 kg or more, it is a lot of time. This means that a heavy driver like me may have a chance to qualify the car, which was not really even before. ,

Marco SorensonWhich moved forward in the hypercar rank with Aston Martin for 2025, expressed a similar approach.

“It certainly levels the playground, which is a good thing,” he said. “We have seen in the past that drivers have chosen to qualify, which are on the small side. This should be perfect for a high-profile championship. ,

Sebastian Burdis, who joined the WEC with Jota-Cadilac this year, was also assistants. But he said that heavy drivers in a line-up will still be denied under the new rule.

He said, “Rules are completely valid for qualifying, but heavy people are still giving something to the lightest man in the crew during the race,” he explained.

“This is a difficult problem to solve in endurance racing, but it is a step in the right direction.”

FIA and Automobile Club Day L’OUST, which jointly writes rules for WeC, has also revealed the new success Handicap system in LMGT3, which replaces the previous success ballast launched in 2019 at GTE AM.

Instead of 15, 10 and 5 kg for the top three finisters in the class, the percentage decrease in lap time will be applied to the balance of car performance with car performance, which is with the minimum weight of the car and/or maximum power The FIA ​​is at the discretion of the FIA. And Aco.

The decrease for a win will be 0.24%, a runner-up for finish 0.16% and 0.08% for the third.