Obviously the ballast isn't working quite like it should, and isn't making enough difference.

I am thinking about increasing it, but I would like your thoughts before I do anything.

The guy who finishes 1st gets banned from the season. Problem solved. Next!

Hmmm..........no LOL

perhaps double or even triple the current amount?

Doubling it sounds like a good place to start, I'll have to do some testing.

The ballast should be given for championship position, not finishing position.

Take this round as an example of why it doesn't work:
At Fe Gold Rev the RAC's have a 1 second a lap advantage and thus only RACs get a weight penalty.
The next event is Aston National Rev, where FZ5s have a 1 second a lap advantage, but no FZ5s have a weight penalty.

This doesn't help to bunch up the field, actually it even stretches it further apart because the top FZ5s pull away from the average RAC-drivers at even more than 1 second a lap and the top RACs have the weight penalty.
You could at least make the championship closer by awarding the weight penalties for the topmost championship positions. That way the championship leader can't increase his lead at the same pace anymore.

Vain

Quote from Vain :

The ballast should be given for championship position, not finishing position.

Take this round as an example of why it doesn't work:
At Fe Gold Rev the RAC's have a 1 second a lap advantage and thus only RACs get a weight penalty.
The next event is Aston National Rev, where FZ5s have a 1 second a lap advantage, but no FZ5s have a weight penalty.

This doesn't help to bunch up the field, actually it even stretches it further apart because the top FZ5s pull away from the average RAC-drivers at even more than 1 second a lap and the top RACs have the weight penalty.
You could at least make the championship closer by awarding the weight penalties for the topmost championship positions. That way the championship leader can't increase his lead at the same pace anymore.

Vain

This should be in the Bible. Dano, time for a rule change?

Yup, does sound like a plan to me, nice one Vain.

Should ballast be for championship position, rather than race finish.

+1. And I think the current ballast amounts are OK IMO.

I agree with the ballast being for championship position.

I would like the weight to be reviewed. It would be interesting to look at the relative performances of those carrying ballast in the races to date, as well as doing some testing.

Would the new AI that can actually drive be any use in testing the affects of different weights ?

I've not looked at them at all, so have no idea myself.

Quote from Bean0 :

Would the new AI that can actually drive be any use in testing the affects of different weights ?

I've not looked at them at all, so have no idea myself.

Good idea, I remember using the AI to try and figure out how to balance the FZ5 and RAC on the oval, but the AI was pretty shite back then, hopefully they are a little better in Y?

Hmm, just an idea, have you been thinking about little engine restriction instead of ballast? That can slow the top guys a bit.
Been trying that in one of my races with TBO/LX4 where i've had restricted LX4's and it was working quite well.
Well, not for the aliens, but at least for the midfield.

Yeah, thats another way to do it, intake restriction rather than ballast.

+1 for intake restriction

I'm sure the idea is to make the field closer but still let the best man win right? There will always be differences so, I don't think you should waste too much time reinventing stuff like this every race or it will end up like FIA ruling. And apart from Hannu, who was in Alien shape, the field wasnt that far apart right? We had battles going until the end. Should be enough, I say leave it as it is but use championship standings instead of race results.

Amen to that.

IMO it is ok as it is... FE GOLD rev was RAC optimised track, as well, as AS Nat for FZ5 is. You will see, how will RAC drivers fall behind at AS National... ballast, or not.

45 kg should be enough for everyone . Something like 90 kg will be just some kind of bully for lead drivers.