FIA ANNOUNCES WORLD MOTOR SPORT COUNCIL DECISIONS

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09.10.20

Hosted by FIA President Jean Todt, the World Motor Sport Council gathered today for its third meeting of the year, with Graham Stoker, FIA Deputy President for Sport and members joining remotely from locations across the globe.
 

The following is a summary of the decisions taken during the meeting:
 
Coronavirus COVID-19
It was agreed to formalize the FIA’s expert medical panel to be at the disposal of all FIA stakeholders during the current pandemic. The panel will be headed by Professor Eric Caumes, head of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, and FIA Medical Commission President, Professor Gérard Saillant.
 
FIA Formula One World Championship
The World Council has given final approval for the 2021 Concorde Governance Agreement which was signed by the FIA, Formula 1 and all 10 current teams in August of this year. This ratification secures a strong future for the pinnacle of motor sport, with an improved governance structure which, combined with the introduction of Financial Regulations and major changes to the Sporting and Technical Regulations due to be introduced in 2022, aims to produce closer and more sustainable competition.
 
Following the recent announcement that Formula 1 Chairman and CEO Chase Carey will move to the position of Non-Executive Chairman at the end of this year, World Council members thanked and paid tribute to his significant contributions to the sport since 2017. The Council congratulated current President of the FIA Single-Seater Commission, Stefano Domenicali, on his appointment to the position of CEO and President of Formula 1 which will come into effect in January 2021.
 
The World Motor Sport Council approved changes to the 2021 Technical Regulations that will prevent the extensive use of reverse engineering of rival designs for the design of a car’s aerodynamic surfaces.
 
New WMSC member
The appointment of Ambassador Amina Mohamed, which was presented by the FIA President and supported by the Kenyan ASN (Kenya Motor Sports Federation), as a new member of the WMSC, was approved.  
 
Amina Mohamed is the Minister for Sport, Culture and Heritage of Kenya and the Chairperson of the WRC Safari Rally Project Steering Committee. She is also a member of the Ethics Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

FIA Manufacturers’ Commission
Burkhard Goeschel was nominated President of the Manufacturers’ Commission and replaces François Fillon, who has decided to step down from the position.
 
FIA World Endurance Championship
The (provisional) 2021 calendar has been approved as follows:

13-14 March 2021USASebring pre-season test
19 March 2021USA1000 Miles of Sebring
1 May 2021BelgiumTotal 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
12-13 June 2021France24 Hours of Le Mans
18 July 2021Italy6 Hours of Monza
26 September 2021Japan6 Hours of Fuji
20 November 2021Bahrain8 Hours of Bahrain


Line-ups comprised of three drivers have been made mandatory in the LMP2 category from the beginning of the 2021 season, with the requirement of accommodating either one Bronze or two Silver-rated drivers. The exact driving times for drivers of different categorisation will be refined accordingly.

The grandfathered non-hybrid LMP1 cars will be balanced to operate in the same performance window as the incoming Le Mans Hypercar cars in 2021.

FIA World Rally Championship
The 2021 FIA World Rally Championship calendar has been approved with 12 events including nine in Europe and three long-haul rallies. The calendar has been created against the backdrop of the unprecedented challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

24 January 2021Monte Carlo
14 February 2021Sweden
25 April 2021Croatia
23 May 2021Portugal
6 June 2021Italy
27 June 2021Kenya
18 July 2021Estonia
1 August 2021Finland
22 August 2021United Kingdom
12 September 2021Chile
17 October 2021Spain
14 November 2021Japan

 
Additionally, events in Turkey, Latvia, Belgium, Argentina, the Acropolis in Greece and Monza in Italy will offer alternatives as “contingency events” in the perspective of on-going COVID-19 related issues.
 
Amendments to the FIA WRC Sporting Regulations include the possibility for competitors entered with a Rally2 car to use previously homologated parts after applying a joker with the view to reduce costs, as it is practice in the Regional Rally Championships.
 
FIA World Rallycross Championship
A new naming convention has been approved for the categories involved in FIA Championships as follows: 

  • Supercar will become RX1
  • Electric Supercar will be known as RX1e 
  • The new Junior eRX will become RX2e 
  • Super1600 will be known as RX3

ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
As Formula E prepares to switch status and become a world championship starting next season (2020-21), the FIA World Motor Sport Council has approved the next series of cost-consolidation measures. Following measures already adopted by the WMSC on June 19, 2020, production parts – not mandatory related to a single supplier – and spare parts have been limited. In addition, data acquisition has been restricted to a certain number of sensors. It has also been decided that each entry will now use no more than one VCU (Vehicle Control Unit) software update per competition.

It has also been decided to reduce the amount of track time for each Qualifying group from six to four minutes. 
 
Extreme E International Series
The WMSC approved Extreme E as an FIA International Series. A waiver was granted to Extreme E to allow the use of electric prototypes powered Cross Country vehicles in a “Closed Road Course” International Series.
 
FIA World Cup for Cross Country – Rallies and Bajas
Following the cancellation of the 2020 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, scheduled to run from November 20-26, this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies has now been cancelled. Considering only one event has run this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this is insufficient for the awarding of the title.
 
The calendar for the 2020 World Cup for Cross Country Bajas is as follows:
 

06-09 February 2020RussiaBaja Russia
03-06 September 2020PolandBaja Poland
05-07 November 2020PortugalBaja de Portalegre
26-28 November 2020United Arab EmiratesDubai International Baja
10-12 December 2020Saudi ArabiaBaja Hail 1
14-16 December 2020Saudi ArabiaBaja Hail 2

 
In order to promote cross country bajas in more countries and help encourage new drivers and teams to the discipline, Regional Cups will be introduced from 2021.
 
From 2021, the maximum number of best results counting towards the titles for the World Cup for Cross Country Rallies will be equal to the number of events run, less one, with a minimum number of best results being three. The awarding of titles in the World Cup for Bajas remains as previously with two scores dropped from the number of events contested.
 
The calendar for the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas has been confirmed:

04-07 February 2021RussiaBaja Russia*
18-20- February 2021United Arab EmiratesDubai International Baja*
04-06 March 2021Saudi ArabiaSharqia Baja*
18-20 March 2021JordanJordan Baja*
23-25 July 2021SpainBaja Spain
12-15 August 2021HungaryHungarian Baja
26-29 August 2021PolandBaja Poland*
09-12 September 2021ItalyItalian Baja
28-30 October 2021PortugalBaja de Portalegre

* Subject to ASN confirmation
 
FIA Regional Rally Championships
Changes to the Regional Rally Sporting Regulations include the limitation of the RC3 class to Rally3 cars homologated from January 1st, 2021, while R3/R3T cars, which performance level is lower or equal to Rally4 cars, join the RC4 class, in accordance with the FIA Rally Pyramid. This has been carried to the WRC Sporting Regulations as well.
 
To safeguard the 2020 Middle East Championship titles in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, it has been agreed that, for each championship event run after October 1st, points will be allocated twice, at the end of Leg 1 and at the end of the rally. Additionally, the maximum number of results taken into account will be equal to the number of rallies contested during the season less one, with a minimum of three.
 
Looking ahead to 2021, the Council has approved the renewal of the series’ Finals in Lausitz, Germany for the FIA European Rally Trophy and in Australia for the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship respectively.
 
The World Motor Sport Council also heard an update of the FIA Rally Star programme presenting key elements of the project’s Sporting Regulations and recently launched ASN guidelines.
 
FIA Safety Commission
Appendix L – Chapter 1 “FIA International Drivers’ Licences” – Article 5 “Qualification and conditions of issue for the Super Licence” has been amended to provide an update on eligibility criteria.
 
In the wake of the current global situation, the window in which drivers will be allowed to score Super Licence points has been extended from three to four years. The highest number of points accumulated in any three years of a four-year period that includes 2020 will be taken into account.
 
Drivers who did not gather the required 40 Super Licence points due to circumstances out of their control or reasons of force majeure will have the opportunity for their case to be considered by the FIA.
 
Drivers must have scored a minimum of 30 points and consistently demonstrated outstanding driving ability in single-seater cars to be able to apply under this new regulation.
 
FIA Single-Seater Commission
The World Council heard an update on the Single-Seater Commission Activity Report, which highlighted that it is undertaking a wide-ranging investigation into various measures with the aim to reduce costs and increase the sustainability of its Championships.
 
FIA F3 World Cup
The FIA has been notified that the current restrictions on visitors entering Macau for the Macau Grand Prix will remain in place for the originally scheduled date of the 2020 FIA F3 World Cup, and therefore acknowledges that the event cannot take place. The FIA looks forward to continuing to work with AAMC with the aim to maintain the FIA Formula 3 World Cup.  
 
FIA GT Commission
The Council has agreed the proposal of the Commission to invite interested parties to submit their proposals for the promotion of a new electric-powered GT series.
 
FIA Touring Car Commission
The Council has agreed the proposal of the Commission to invite interested parties to submit their proposals for the promotion of a new electric-powered Touring Car series.
 
FIA Women in Motorsport
FIA Girls on Track - Rising Stars, the Commission’s talent detection and nurturing programme, commences next week when 20 selected participants from five continents convene for the shoot-out and first training camp.
 
FIA Hill Climb Commission
Changes to Technical Regulations to be applied in 2021 have been approved, restricting forced induction engines in Category 2 with a 42.25mm restrictor (29.80mm restrictor for engines fitted with two parallel compressors) on the basis of maintaining level playing field, avoiding cost escalation and ensuring high safety standards.

The following calendars have been approved:

2021 FIA European Hill Climb Championship

09-11 April 2021FranceCol St-Pierre
23-25 April 2021AustriaRechberg
07-09 May 2021PortugalRampa da Boticas
14-16 May 2021SpainSubida Internacional al Fito
28-30 May 2021Czech RepublicEcce Homo Sternberk (1) 
11-13 June 2021GermanyGlasbachrennen
25-27 June 2021ItalyCoppa Paolino Teodori (1)
16-18 July 2021SlovakiaDobšinský kopec (1)
23-25 July 2021PolandLimanowa
13-15 August 2021SwitzerlandSt. Ursanne - Les Rangiers
27-29 August 2021SloveniaGHD Petrol Ilirska Bistrica
17-19 September 2021CroatiaBuzetski dani

(1) Subject to obtaining guarantees from the organisers via their ASN regarding the organisational and/or safety improvements.

2021 FIA International Hill Climb Cup

21-23 May 2021PolandBieszczadzki
02-04 July 2021ItalyTrento Bondone
06-08 August 2021SloveniaGHD Lučine
20-22 August 2021GermanyADAC Osnabrück

 
2021 FIA Hill Climb Masters

08-10 October 2021PortugalBraga*

 * Competition open to holders of an International Licence of Grade D1
 
FIA Truck Racing Commission
Biofuel will be introduced from the start of the 2021 FIA European Truck Racing Championship season. Competitors will be encouraged to use biofuel originated from renewable source. The fuel has no impact on performance compared with the currently used diesel and is available on the market.

FIA Historic Motor Sport Commission
The following calendars have been approved:

2021 FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship

11-13 March 2021Spain69 Rally Costa Brava
09-11 April 2021Italy36° Sanremo Rallye Storico
05-07 May 2021Czech Republic30. Historic Vltava Rallye
27-29 May 2021SpainRallye de Asturias Histórico
24-26 June 2021Hungary54. Mecsek Rallye
15-17 July 2021AustriaRallye Weiz
13-14 August 2021FinlandLahti Historic Rally
23-25 September 2021Italy33. Rally Elba Storico 
21-23 October 2021SwitzerlandRallye International du Valais


2021 FIA Historic Hill Climb Championship

23-25 April 2021AustriaRechberg
28-30 May 2021Czech RepublicEcce Homo Sternberk
18-20 June 2021SloveniaGHD Gorjanci
02-04 July 2021ItalyTrento Bondone
09-11 July 2021ItalyCesana Sestriere
27-29 August 2021SloveniaGHD Petrol Ilirska Bistrica
17-19 September 2021CroatiaBuzetski dani
24-26 September 2021ItalyCoppa Chianti Classico

 
FIA Land Speed Records Commission
Amendments to Appendix D and L relating to driver licensing were approved with the view to provide clarification on the requirements and align Land Speed Records regulations with FIA international driver licensing.
 
For very high-speed competitors contesting records up to 1 mile, it is now permitted to set multiple start and finish line in order to allow adequate stopping distance. The measurement conditions of temporary and permanent courses were also updated.
 
Finally, safety requirements in regards to driver and cockpit equipment were clarified with the aim to better take into consideration the specificities of the discipline and advancements in safety equipment.
 
Upcoming World Motor Sport Council meeting in 2020

16 December 2020GenevaAt the occasion of the FIA Annual General Assembly