World Motor Sport Council meeting decisions

UPDATE A clarification of F1 rules changes:

"Maneuvers liable to hinder other drivers, such as more than one change of direction to defend a position, deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted," it said.

"Drivers must use the track at all times. For the avoidance of doubt the white lines defining the track edges are considered to be part of the track but the curbs are not."

Some drivers had been criticized this season for deliberately gaining an advantage by leaving the track to gain a better line where there was a hard run-off.

The gearbox rules were also tweaked, with drivers allowed one penalty-free change.

"For 2011 only, except during the last event of the championship season, each driver will be permitted to use a replacement gearbox without incurring a penalty the first time this becomes necessary during the season," the new rules said.

"Under such circumstances the replacement gearbox will only be required to complete the remainder of the event in question."

Drivers are currently penalized five places on the starting grid if gearboxes do not last four consecutive events but that will stretch to five next year.

The 107 percent rule, which excludes a driver from taking part in a race if his best lap in qualifying exceeds 107 percent of the fastest time set in the session, was restored after being dropped to help the new teams.

Under exceptional circumstances, however, stewards could still allow a car to start.

12/12/10

The final meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in 2010 took place in the Principality of Monaco Friday.

This evening, the FIA will be honoring its Champions from around the world at the annual Prize Giving Gala held at the Sporting d'Eté de Monte-Carlo, Monaco. The awarding of the coveted trophies to winners across categories of the sport will mark the finale to the 2010 FIA season.

FORMULA ONE

The WMSC approved the introduction of a new specification engine from 2013, underlining the FIA’s commitment to improving sustainability and addressing the needs of the automotive industry. Following dialogue with the engine manufacturers and experts in this field, the power units will be four cylinders, 1.6 liter with high pressure gasoline injection up to 500 bar with a maximum of 12,000 rpm.

The engines will deliver a 35% reduction in fuel consumption and will feature extensive energy management and energy recovery systems, while maintaining current levels of performance. In 2013, five engines will be permitted per driver, but each year after that the limit will be four.

Sporting and Technical Regulations

A number of changes were made to the Sporting and Technical Regulations for 2011, including:

– The article forbidding team orders (39.1) is deleted. Teams will be reminded that any actions liable to bring the sport into disrepute are dealt with under Article 151c of the International Sporting Code and any other relevant provisions
– Amendments to the list of penalties Stewards are permitted to apply
– Revisions to driving and driver conduct
– A limit on the width of the fast lane in the pits
– The introduction of a regulation permitting the Race Director to close the pit lane during a race for safety reasons
– The re-introduction of intermediate tires for 2011
– Penalties to be applied to any driver who fails to use both specification of dry weather tire during the race
– An amendment requiring gearboxes to be used for five consecutive races, instead of four
– Clarification on when cars can overtake the safety car
– A refinement to the principles of the regulations already agreed concerning moveable rear wings
– A better definition of the reference plane, and reinforcement of bodywork deflection tests, especially at the front of the reference plane
– The allowance for anti-intrusion panels to protect drivers’ legs

Amendments to the 2012 Technical Regulations were made in the following areas:

– Team communications will be made available to broadcasters
– The inclusion of fuel compounds produced from biomass
– A limitation on suspension uprights

RALLYING

The class of cars eligible to contest FIA World and Regional Rally Championship events has been updated, clarified, and is available in the 2011 Sporting Regulations.

GT

The following calendars were agreed:

2011 FIA GT1 World Championship

27.03
10.04
08.05
05.06
03.07
17.07
04.09
23.10
06.11
UAE
BEL
PRT
GBR
ESP
FRA
CHN
BRA
ARG*
Abu Dhabi
Zolder
Algarve
Silverstone
Navarra
Paul Ricard
Ordos
Curitiba
San Luis

* Subject to confirmation by the ASN

Note: An event in Germany may be added (to be confirmed by 21 December)

2011 FIA GT3 European Championship

08.05
05.06
03.07
17.07
21.08
16.10
PRT
GBR
ESP
FRA
RUS
NLD
Algarve
Silverstone
Navarra
Paul Ricard
Smolensk Ring**
Zandvoort

** Subject to the homologation of the circuit

From January 2011, success ballast in the FIA GT1 World Championship will be allocated to cars and drivers for each qualifying race, as well as the Championship race. In addition to the new scale for the qualifying race, the scale applied to the Championship race has also been amended.

Amended tire regulations come into effect for GT1 from January 2011, which include an increase in the number of dry-weather tires to six sets (of which only four are permitted for qualifying and the races). The intention is to allow the teams to use tires to their maximum capacity during practice, reducing the necessity for additional costs with private testing.

For safety reasons, and to balance the performance of cars, success ballast allocated to a driver finishing in the top three places in a race counting towards the FIA GT3 European Championship will be converted into compensation times. These will be imposed during a pit stop and will be applied from one race to another, and do not accumulate from event to event.

The scale of compensation time, added to the minimum pit stop duration, allocated to each car and to the drivers for each race is as follows:

1st
2nd
3rd

+15 seconds
+10 seconds
+5 seconds

TOURING CARS

From January 2011, any competitor in the FIA World Touring Car Championship who changes the model of their car will have the maximum compensation weight imposed at the event immediately following the change. Subsequently, the competitor will carry the weight relating to that model.

From January 2011, points will be awarded after each qualifying session in races counting towards the FIA European Touring Car Cup. For each category, points will be awarded as follows and will be added to the points scored according to the race classifications:

1st
2nd
3rd

3 points
2 points
1 point

Regulations relating to the allocation of success ballast in the FIA European Touring Car Cup have also been amended.

HISTORIC MOTOR SPORT

A comprehensive Knowledge Centre will be created to collect and archive a complete and authoritative history of the sport, its competitors, personnel, events and the vehicles involved. Over time, this will provide a definitive record of international and significant national motor sport from the date of the first qualifying event, and preserve valuable data for current and future generations.

KARTING

The following calendar was agreed:

2011 CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship

20-22.05
10-12.06
05-07.08
FRA
CZE
NLD
Magny Cours
Most
Assen

The third round of the 2011 CIK-FIA u18 World Karting Championship and of the 2011 CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy is confirmed in Bahrain (03-04 November).

FORMULA 3

In order to further increase the appeal of Formula 3 and to help develop the careers of young aspirant racing drivers and engineers, a new FIA Formula 3 International Trophy for drivers has been created from 2011 onwards. Drivers who are registered to take part in a full season of a Formula 3 national series are eligible and the three highest-placed drivers in the final overall classification will qualify for a Formula One Super Licence, on the same basis as the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

The FIA Formula 3 International Trophy will be contested over six existing international events:

TBA
22.05
31.07
14.08
20.11
27.11
DEU
FRA
BEL
NLD
MAC
KOR
Hockenheim
Pau
Spa
Zandvoort
Macau
Korea

The scale of points is in harmony with other FIA Championships and will be applied as follows:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
25 points
18 points
15 points
12 points
10 points
8 points
6 points
4 points
2 points
1 point

MANUFACTURERS COMMISSION

The Manufacturers Commission, consisting of board representatives from the global automobile manufacturers, met twice during 2010 as part of the FIA’s commitment to developing a new strategic partnership between both parties.

The objectives of the Commission are:

– To further unite the development of motor sport and road car technology
– To improve the appeal to competitors, sponsors and broadcasters, and enhance the spectacle for the fans of FIA Championships
– To jointly explore common initiatives relating to the environment and road safety

Working Groups have been formed and meetings have been held between the FIA, automobile manufacturers and key automotive stakeholders, including partners in technology, tires and fuel. The FIA’s new roadmap for motor sport is addressing the introduction of hybrid, turbo-charging and fuel injection technology into its Championships and international series, as well as the introduction of zero emission technologies.

Working in collaboration with these stakeholders, the FIA is continuing to drive more sustainable and road relevant technologies into motor sport and encouraging greater convergence between the sport, road cars and road safety.

SAFETY

A new study group has been established to help further develop safety, so that the FIA’s recommendations can be applied at all levels of the sport in a practical manner for competitors and organizers.

Benefitting from the close collaboration between the FIA and FIA Institute, the study group's objectives are to determine how current FIA Standards can be adapted for grass root and national motor sport events, to identify best practices in all areas of safety, including cars, drivers’ equipment, organization and accident management, and to advise on their adoption by ASNs at national level.

DECADE OF ACTION FOR ROAD SAFETY

The global launch of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety will take place on 11 May 2011. The FIA has formed a working group, comprising members of the World Council, to support the FIA Clubs and its partners at the FIA Foundation, iRAP and eSafety Aware in their efforts to advocate safer cars, develop educational programs and support efforts to protect vulnerable road users.

In relation to sport, the FIA will also encourage competitors and ambassadors in the various FIA Championships to jointly participate in the promotion of the Decade of Action.

The next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council will be held on 8 March 2011 at the FIA, Place de la Concorde, Paris, at 09:30 hrs.