Muller slams "stupid" WTCC points

Four-time World Touring Car champion Yvan Muller has renewed his calls for a points system change to reduce the influence of the series' reverse-grid races.

It had been suggested in the run-up to the WTCC's debut at the Nurburgring Nordschleife that this event should carry a greater points weighting in accordance with its status, although double-points races have proved unpopular with fans in other race series.

Muller rejected this and described the standard scoring system as "still stupid."

Currently the WTCC awards points for the top five qualifying positions, in descending order, of 5-4-3-2-1, while both races carry an identical points weighting for the top 10, beginning with 25 points for the winner. The top 10 on the race two grid is a reversal of qualifying results.

"I don't think the Nordschleife should give more points," said Muller. "But I think the second race [at all WTCC weekends] should not have the same points as the first. OK, in qualifying you take points, but it's still not enough."

He cited Honda privateer Norbert Michelisz's victory on home ground at the Hungaroring earlier this month as an example of how taking the reverse-grid pole spot in qualifying paid unfair dividends.

"Budapest scenario: Michelisz qualifies 10th on the grid [for race one], he wins the second race, he has more points than the guy who was second in qualifying. Who should have more points? The guy who was 10th on the grid or the guy who was second?

"You have to be either on pole or P10 – that's why this is stupid."

Originally on Autosport.com