WTCC: Joker laps under consideration for 2017

The World Touring Car Championship could introduce rallycross-style 'joker' laps in 2017.

The move, which would be aimed at improving the spectacle at street races, would allow for the addition of a compulsory one-off detour that either shortens or lengthens the typical lap time, introducing an additional layer of strategy as teams try to pick the optimum time to use it.

According to the FIA World Council, the concept is being reviewed by the FIA's Safety and Circuit commission, and the addition of the feature to an event will be subject to a full safety assessment.

Meanwhile, events will be reduced to two days to cut costs, with Friday testing being dropped and replaced by extended practice sessions to compensate for the lost track time. The distance for the main race at all events has also been extended and will now run two laps longer than the opening race, with an accompanying increase in points to reflect the main race's greater value.

Finally, TCN-2 cars have been given the green light to race under the 'WTCC 2' class; a move aimed at increasing overall grid numbers.