Prize money for the independent drivers in the 2008 FIA World Touring Car Championship has been increased to 384,000 euros.

The prize money will be awarded to the drivers entered in the Yokohama Independents’ Trophy.

At each of the season’s twelve race meetings, a total of 32,000 euros will be awarded to the top six independent drivers, classified by adding together the points obtained in the two races:

• first driver: 12,000 euros
• second driver: 8,000
• third driver: 5,000
• fourth driver: 3,000
• fifth driver: 2,000
• sixth driver: 2,000

The point-scoring system will be the same as the FIA WTCC: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points to the first eight drivers classified; however, double points will be awarded in the the two races of the final meeting at Macau.

Previous winners of the WTCC Independents’ Trophy are Wiechers-Sport’s Marc Hennerici (BMW 320i) in 2005, GR Asia’s Tom Coronel (SEAT León) in 2006 and Wiechers-Sport’s Stefano D’Aste (BMW 320si) last year.