The prize money reserved for the competitors of the Yokohama Independents’ Trophy will be substantially increased in 2010.
The total amount of the prize money rises from 384,000 to 480,000 euros, meaning that at each event 40,000 euros will be awarded to the independent drivers, compared to the 32,000 awarded until 2009. This amounts to a 24% increase.
The prize money is awarded to top six Independent drivers, classified by adding together the points obtained in the two races of each event, according to the following scale:
— to the first driver: euro 12,000
— to the second driver: euro 10,000
— to the third driver: euro 8,000
— to the fourth driver: euro 5,000
— to the fifth driver: euro 3,000
— to the sixth driver: euro 2,000
The point scoring system is the same as the WTCC: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 points to the first eight drivers classified; however, unlike the WTCC, double points are awarded in the two races of the final meeting at Macau.
From 2009, one additional point is awarded to drivers setting the independents’ pole position and fastest lap at each round. Three additional points are also awarded for each point scored in the WTCC overall classification.
Previous winners of the trophy were Wiechers-Sport’s Marc Hennerici (BMW 320i) in 2005, GR Asia’s Tom Coronel (SEAT León) in 2006, Wiechers-Sport’s Stefano D’Aste (BMW 320si) in 2007, Proteam Motorsport’s Sergio Hernández (BMW 320si) in 2008 and SUNRED’s Tom Coronel (SEAT León) in 2009.