Craft-Bamboo Racing CEO Richard Coleman has called for a circuit-specific Balance of Performance [BoP] in the TCR International Series, after his team secured just two top ten finishes between its three drivers in Thailand.
Although James Nash qualified in second on Saturday, the Brit was unable to convert that pace into race results, in part due to driveshaft failures that affected him in both qualifying and race one.
Nash had already slipped down the order before retiring in race one, whilst Pepe Oriola retired from second due to a gearbox failure on the final lap.
That side-lined the Spaniard for race two as well, whilst Nash went on to secure a points finishes in seventh whilst Dan Lloyd missed out on the points in 11th.
Coleman believes that the performance of Giacomo Altoè in the Honda Civic, immediately after switching from Volkswagen Golf machinery, shows that there are problems with the system.
“It was a very challenging weekend for the team,” said Coleman. “James did a hell of lap to get us onto the front row for race one but despite the one lap pace of the car being good, we still don’t have the straight line speed to race the other cars.
“I think it is clear to see that the BoP is not correct. Altoè is a good up and coming driver and a good rookie but he was trying to compete for points in the VW and in his first weekend in a Honda he is on the podium.
“I think it is time for the championship to move towards a circuit specific BoP.”
Coleman was also frustrated with the mechanical failures that blighted his team’s trip to Thailand.
“The failures that we had are very costly to our teams’ championship bid and it is hugely frustrating.
“James experienced a driveshaft failure on the Saturday but we had another failure during race one. Pepe had a gearbox failure in race one and we still don’t have the information to fully understand this yet.
“It was a hugely difficult weekend and with all the hard work put in by the team and drivers, they deserve more.”