With success comes the penalty though and in the WTCC that is ballast. But what marks Andy and BMW out from there rivals is the ability to manage that extra weight.
Indeed, such has been Andy’s status as a front runner over the course of two and a half seasons that he has rarely been able to go a race weekend without additional weight laden on his car. So much so, he doesn’t even think about it anymore.
“I just ignore it now and drive as fast as I can. It is something you learn to live with. I have spent my whole career getting to where I am, driving for one of the best manufacturers in the world with
BMW, and I am happy to have a great job.
“Ballast can work with you or against you and the WTCC really isn’t a championship for egos because the fastest drivers down always win the races and quite often the slower drivers win the races with the reverse grid and less ballast on board.
“I would rather win the championship rather than win three races but feature very badly in the rest. To win with the lightest car isn’t that rewarding.”
Looking ahead to his home round, Andy faces a tough task against some formidable competition.
The likes of fellow race winners James Thompson and Rob Huff also enjoy home advantage in their respective Alfa Romeo and Chevrolet entries, while SEAT come to
Brands Hatch with their diesel-powered SEAT Leon, a car that has already tasted success in only its second meeting.
It is a car that has prompted discussion amongst the drivers, the car’s additional weight seemingly being balanced out again by the fact it displays far more torque than its direct rivals. Andy admits he is sceptical about the situation, especially since it is beginning to confuse the situation of regulations.
“I can’t influence anything but at the end of the day, when they turn up the turbo boost in qualifying then they are really quick I just like putting a good lap together and placing it on pole position, with or without boost, with or without weight.
