Prize money for the FIA World Touring Car Championship's Independents' Trophy is set to rise from 384,000 euros (£345,300) to 500,000 (£450,000) from 2010.

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"We are very grateful to Yokohama for continuing to support the privateer drivers' efforts to stay in the championship," WTCC promoter Marcello Lotti said.

"And thanks to Yokohama we are now able to offer an impressive half-million prize money."

The way this prize money is going to be awarded will be unveiled in the next weeks.

"We are currently in negotiations with other partners to increase the prize money by another 250,000 euros (£225,000). We hope to confirm this new deal soon," said Lotti.

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