The World Motor Sport Council met in Paris on 24 October, 2007. The following decisions were taken:
FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
There will be a total freeze on engine development for a period of 10 years, starting from 2008. A change can be made after five years but only with the unanimous agreement of all stakeholders and following a further two-year notice period. Total freeze means that there will be no exceptions for development of certain parts of the engine, as is the case under the current regulations.
A number of amendments were adopted for the 2008 Sporting Regulations and the 2008 and 2009 Technical Regulations. For full details please refer to www.fia.com.
Ferrari’s request to supply two teams with engines in the 2008 and 2009 championship has been accepted.
Spyker’s request to change its team name to Force India has been accepted.
Following the judgement of the World Motor Sport Council on 13 September, a sum in excess of $50 million will be paid in December to the FIA. This will be used to establish the FIA Development Fund, which will assist the work of National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) in promoting the development of safer motor sport worldwide, especially in countries where the motor sport infrastructure is in need of support. Representatives from Mercedes and Ferrari will be invited to join the Fund’s board.
WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
A number of regulation changes will be incorporated into the 2008 and 2009 World Rally Championships.
From 1 January 2008:
- To provide for more equal competition, the running order for each Day will be based on the event classification.
- To aid public understanding, the term “Leg” will be replaced by “Day”.
- The regulations will provide for a 10 minute final service prior to the finish podium. It is intended to create the opportunity for the Service Park to be an attraction until the finish of the event.
From 1 January 2009:
- To increase the challenge of the events and to increase media opportunities, events will be allowed to run mixed surfaces, on the condition that a surface will be used on two consecutive days.
- To create more flexibility, the total length of the special stages will be increased from 360km to 400km.
GT
In 2010, the FIA GT Championship will evolve into two separate series, with a World Championship for GT1 cars and a European Championship for GT2 cars.
These Championships will follow new GT1 and GT2 Technical Regulations, to be published following the next World Motor Sport Council in December 2007. They will be based on the concept that 2010 cars will be heavier but more powerful, using production engines, with output controlled by various means including a standard ECU. The new specifications will also seek to reduce operating costs.
The rest of the Technical Regulations will be based on the current GT2 regulations, with some additional aero modifications permitted for GT1. The regulations for the FIA GT3 European Championship will remain the same.
CALENDAR
2008 FIA Formula One World Championship
16/3 AUS Australia
23/3 MAL Malaysia
6/4 BRN Bahrain
27/4 E Spain
11/5 TR Turkey
25/5 MC Monaco
8/6 CDN Canada
22/6 F France
6/7 GB Great Britain
20/7 D Germany
3/8 H Hungary
24/8 E Europe
7/9 B Belgium
14/9 I Italy
28/9 SGP Singapore*
12/10 J Japan
19/10 CN China
02/11 BR Brazil
*Night race
2008 FIA World Touring Car Championship
2/3 BR Curitiba
18/5 E Valencia
1/6 F Pau Ville
15/6 CZ Brno
6/7 P Estoril
27/7 GB Brands Hatch
31/8 D Oschersleben
21/9 S Anderstorp*
5/10 I Monza
26/10 J Okayama
16/11 MO Macau
*Subject to the homologation of the circuit.
FIA GT Championship
20/4 GB Silverstone
18/5 I Monza
21/6 I Adria
6/7 D Oschersleben
3/8 B 24 Hours of Spa*
31/8 RO Bucharest Challenge 28**
14/9 CZ Brno
28/9 F Nogaro
19/10 B Zolder
23/11 RA San Luis
*Subject to confirmation
**Subject to the homologation of the circuit.
2008 FIA World Rally Championship
24 - 27/1 MC 76e Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo
8 - 10/2 S Uddeholm Swedish Rally
28/2 - 2/3 MEX Rally Mexico
27 - 30/3 RA Rally Argentina
24 - 27/4 HKJ Jordan Rally WRC
16 - 18/5 I Rallye d'Italia-Sardegna
29/5 - 1/6 GR BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally
13 - 15/6 TR Rally of Turkey
31/7 - 3/8 FIN Neste Oil Rally Finland
15 - 17/8 D ADAC Rallye Deutschland
28 - 31/8 NZ Rally of New Zealand
2 - 5/10 E Rallye de España
10 - 12/10 F Rallye de France Tour de Corse
24 - 26/10 J Rally Japan
28 - 30/11 GB Wales Rally GB
2008 FIA Production Car World Rally Championship
8 - 10/2 S Uddeholm Swedish Rally
28/2 - 2/3 MEX Rally Mexico
27 - 30/3 RA Rally Argentina
29/5 - 1/6 GR BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally
28 - 31/8 NZ Rally of New Zealand
24 - 26/10 J Rally Japan
28 - 30/11 GB Wales Rally GB
2008 FIA Junior Rally Championship
24 - 27/4 HKJ Jordan Rally WRC
16 - 18/5 I Rallye d'Italia-Sardegna
13 - 15/6 TR Rally of Turkey
31/7 - 3/8 FIN Neste Oil Rally Finland
15 - 17/8 D ADAC Rallye Deutschland
2 - 5/10 E Rally de España
The WMSC also adopted 2008 calendars for a number of other FIA series including the FIA GT3 European Championship, FIA European Truck Racing Championship, FIA European Rally Championship, FIA African Rally Championship, FIA Middle East Rally Championship and FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship.
