Thanks for your post, Niels.
You make a very good point regarding the 'locked-in' drivers. The answer as to why the championship is structured like it is serves several purposes.
Firstly, by having a set of 15 'locked-in' racers (who
are the fastest drivers becuase they have scored the most points) we have
continuity from round to round throughout the season. This, along with the ballast rules, leads to the creation of rivalries for positions, whether it be for the title (1st) or a rivalry between the places 10-15 for a top ten position at the season's end.
Secondly, the advantage of being 'locked-in', is a motivating factor to those drivers in places 15-20 of the championship. A good set of results at a round of the iTCC will get them into the top 15, qualifying them automatically for a place at the next round of the iTCC, where they may be able to keep that successful form going and climb the championship table.
Thirdly, the 'locked-in' principe is a loyalty incentive. The good drivers, those who attend the iTCC races round after round, and who consistently score points at each round of the iTCC, are rewarded with a guaranteed place at the next round.
Fourthly, these good drivers in the top 15 (who generally speaking are from well-established teams) face a very stern challenge from any driver in the 30 who race. That means at any round of the iTCC, a rookie, if he is fast enough, can race bumper-to-bumper with a veteran of LFS, providing a new challenge for both rookie and veteran alike.
One of my objectives for the iTCC was to promote new drivers. I wanted to create a league where the LFS veterans could be challenged at every round by fast drivers new to the sport of sim-racing. I'm not sure how many new drivers we saw last year in the iTCC, but we saw some new drivers, and those new drivers had the opportunity to showcase their talents to the established teams, and I hope that has been good for both the drivers and the teams.
I do see the point you make, and I can see how it could be seen as unfair. I, however, don't see it like that. I think the format that we've decided upon is a large part of what makes the iTCC what it is - intense, engaging, and breathless!
Thanks again for the post, Niels - I hope we see you rubbing wheels with the big guns
Cheers
Joe Keaveney