Tarquini: I like this ballast situation!

With ballast having been a major issue in the World Touring Car Championship this season, it seems bizarre to hear a driver saying how they like the weight situation going into the season finale in Macau later this month.

However, from the point of view of Gabriele Tarquini, the ballast looks quite good as he will carry 45kilos of extra weight around the tricky street circuit - significantly less than both Augusto Farfus and Jorg M?ller who lie ahead of him in the championship standings.

Indeed, Tarquini is only three points behind Farfus heading into the final two rounds of the year having stormed into contention for the title at Istanbul with a double podium finish and he will now hope for more luck than he enjoyed in Macau twelve months ago - when a qualifying crash forced him out of the weekend early on what was his final appearance for Alfa Romeo.

"I'm very happy with the ballast situation going to Macau," the Italian said. "The highlight of my season so far has to be Istanbul. I changed my strategy that weekend to all or nothing and it really worked. I had a win and a third place and, okay, I was heavier for Valencia but I'm now only carrying 45kgs for Macau.

"It's been a really good first season for me with SEAT Sport; it's a very different team to Alfa Romeo but I'm really comfortable with everything - the car, the team, the mechanics and the management. I had a slow start to the season and it took me until the third race weekend to get the best from the car, but the target for me was to fight for the drivers' title and that's exactly what I've been able to do."