Driver ratings compromising LMP2 grids, claims Strakka boss

Currently, the grid order in WEC is based on an average of two drivers’ best times in qualifying in all four classes – with LMP2 teams required to run one of their silver-rated drivers.

This has meant that Strakka has been forced to run gentleman driver and team owner Nick Leventis for the first three rounds of the season, before recruiting silver-rated single-seater ace Lewis Williamson for the most recent race at the Nurburgring.

Walmsley says that the practice of having to theoretically run an amateur driver in qualifying is affecting his team's chances.

“Silver drivers having to qualify the car is an absolute farce of a regulation,” Walmsley told Motorsport.com.

“It does nothing but ridicule the people who are investing heavily in their teams and the championship, and the fans want to see the cars being driven as fast as they can be.

"[Before the Nurburgring] our starting position has been compromised by qualifying with a driver who’s never in his career had to deal with that pressure.”

Walmsley also believes the growing number of young, aspiring professionals rated as silver drivers is a worrying trend – as is the practice of drivers being downgraded to silver despite on-track success.

Asked what he thought about Signatech Alpine’s Gustavo Menezes being rated silver, he quipped: “I’ve never met such a young gentleman driver, especially one who finished on the podium in F3 last year.

“It’s amazing how he did that at such an old age! But he’s not the only quick silver – Howson has done a great job, Rao has shown well this year.”

He added: “Provided that criteria are set, and then people are judged against those criteria, that’s fine.

“What I don’t like is drivers winning a world championship as a gold and then getting demoted to a silver, that’s nonsense. Having silvers who don’t meet the FIA’s own criteria for a silver is nonsense.

“At the end of the day the sport needs gentleman racers, no one wants to see them leave this paddock; we should be doing all we can to keep them there.”