FIA President Jean Todt thanked Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation President and FIA Vice-President, Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah, for his hospitality and welcoming WMSC members to Doha.

FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

The 2015 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar is confirmed as follows:

15 March                    AUS                 Grand Prix of Australia

29 March                    MYS                 Grand Prix of Malaysia

12 April                       CHN                  Grand Prix of China

19 April                       BHR                  Grand Prix of Bahrain

 3 May                         KOR                 Grand Prix of Korea (TBC)

10 May                        ESP                 Grand Prix of Spain

24 May                        MCO                Grand Prix of Monaco

7 June                         CAN                 Grand Prix of Canada

21 June                       AUT                 Grand Prix of Austria

5 July                          GBR                 Grand Prix of Great Britain

19 July                        DEU                 Grand Prix of Germany

26 July                        HUN                 Grand Prix of Hungary

23 August                   BEL                  Grand Prix of Belgium

6 September               ITA                    Grand Prix of Italy

20 September            SGP                 Grand Prix of Singapore

27 September            JPN                  Grand Prix of Japan

11 October                 RUS                 Grand Prix of Russia (Sochi)

25 October                 USA                 Grand Prix of USA (Austin)

1 November               MEX                 Grand Prix of Mexico

15 November             BRA                 Grand Prix of Brazil

29 November             ARE                 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
 

2015 F1 SPORTING REGULATIONS

The following decisions were taken:

Points

Points for both titles will no longer be doubled for the final Event of the Championship.

Standing Restarts

After consultation with the Teams who raised a number of safety concerns, Articles 42.7 and 42.8 on standing restarts have been rescinded.

Virtual Safety Car (VSC)

Following tests of the VSC system at the final Events of 2014, the introduction of the system has been approved for 2015. The VSC procedure may be initiated to neutralise a race upon the order of the clerk of the course. It will normally be used when double waved yellow flags are needed on any section of track and competitors or officials may be in danger, but the circumstances are not such as to warrant use of the safety car itself. The full text of the article is available in Annex I.

Suspending a race

When a race is suspended, the pit exit will be closed and all cars must now proceed slowly into the pit lane, not the starting grid. The first car to arrive in the pit lane should proceed directly to the pit exit staying in the fast lane, all the other cars should form up in a line behind the first car. 

Team personnel or equipment on grid

If any team personnel or team equipment remain on the grid after the 15 second signal has been shown the driver of the car concerned must start the race from the pit lane. A ten second stop-and-go penalty will be imposed on any driver who fails to do this.

Power Unit Penalties

The replacement of a complete power unit will no longer result in a penalty, instead as specified in the current regulations, penalties will be applied cumulatively for individual components of the power unit.

If a grid place penalty is imposed, and the driver’s grid position is such that the full penalty cannot be applied, the remainder of the penalty will be applied in the form of a time penalty during the race (not at the next race as was previously the case) according to the following scale :

o   1 to 5 grid places untaken: A penalty under Article 16.3(a) will be applied.

o   6 to 10 grid places untaken: A penalty under Article 16.3(b) will be applied.

o   11 to 20 grid places untaken: A penalty under Article 16.3(c) will be applied.

o   More than 20 grid places untaken: A penalty under Article 16.3(d) will be applied.

Time Penalties

In addition to the existing five-second penalty (Article 16.3a), a new ten-second penalty (Article 16.3b) will also be introduced, to be applied in the same manner.

Unsafe Release

If a car is deemed to have been released in an unsafe condition during a race a ten second stop-and-go penalty will be imposed on the driver concerned. An additional penalty will be imposed on any driver who, in the opinion of the stewards, continues to drive a car knowing it to have been released in an unsafe condition.

Qualifying Procedure

The qualifying procedure was clarified: for cases when 24 cars are eligible seven will be excluded after Q1 and Q2, if 22 cars are eligible six cars will be excluded after Q1 and Q2, and so on if fewer cars are eligible.

Safety Car: lapped cars

Once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap, the race director will no longer have to wait for all the lapped cars to reach the back of the pack behind the safety car.

2015 F1 TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

-       The weight of the car, without fuel, must not be less than 702kg at all times during the Event (up from 701kg).

-       Changes have been made to the rules governing Wind Tunnel Testing and with regard to the aerodynamic reporting periods for 2015 and 2016. 

-       Any suspension system fitted to the front wheels must be so arranged that its response results only from changes in load applied to the front wheels.

-       Any suspension system fitted to the rear wheels must be so arranged that its response results only from changes in load applied to the rear wheels.

-       The Zylon anti-intrusion panels on both sides of the survival cell have been extended upwards to the rim of the cockpit and alongside the pilot’s head.

NEXT MEETING OF THE STRATEGY GROUP

The FIA President confirmed that the next meeting of the Strategy Group would take place on 18 December, and would focus reducing costs, improving the show, making cars quicker and more difficult to drive, and reviewing the technical and sporting regulations, with the aim of simplifying the rules where possible.

ACCIDENT PANEL

A review of all the evidence and other information about the events leading up to Jules Bianchi’s accident at the Japanese Grand Prix 5 October 2014, Suzuka, has been carried out by the 10-man Accident Panel, appointed by the FIA and chaired by Safety Commission President Peter Wright. The Panel has issued a 396-page report on their findings with recommendations for improvements, many relevant to all of motor sport. This has been presented to the FIA World Motor Sport Council, which accepted the findings and gave a mandate to implement the full recommendations and conclusions of the report. The summary issued by the panel can be found on fia.com.

CRITERIA FOR THE ISSUING OF SUPER LICENCES

A proposal on the conditions of attribution of the Super Licence was approved for 2016, on the basis of the following criteria:

1- Safety criteria

The following changes have been made compared to the current regulations:

-       There is a valid driving licence requirement.

-       There is a minimum age requirement (18yo).

-       There is a verification of knowledge of the F1 Sporting Regulations/ISC rules.

2- Experience criteria

With the following changes compared to the current regulations:

-       There is the 300km in F1 TCC or TPC_ as a minimum requirement.

-       There is a 2 years minimum running in minor Formulas.

3- Performance criteria

With the following changes compared to the current regulations:

-       There is a point system requirement, based on the driver results in previous Formulas.

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

The 2015 FIA World Rally Championship calendar is confirmed as follows:

25 January                 MCO                Rally Monte Carlo**

15 February                SWE                Rally Sweden

08 March                    MEX                 Rally Mexico*

26 April                       ARG                 Rally Argentina

24 May                       PRT                  Rally Portugal

14 June                      ITA                    Rally Italy*

05 July                       POL                  Rally Poland

02 August                  FIN                    Rally Finland

23 August                  DEU                  Rallye Germany

13 September            AUS                  Rally Australia

04 October                 FRA                  Rally France**

25 October                 ESP                  Rally Spain

15 November             GBR                  Rally Great Britain

Note: The finish date given is the Sunday of the rally weekend.

* Subject to ASN’s confirmation.

** Subject to Organisation Agreement.

-       From 2015, the transmission of performance data or information to or from a competing car, not in relation with safety, is forbidden during special stages to help promote greater competition.

-       In order to give greater opportunity to teams entering just one car in the WRC 2 and WRC 3 Championships for Teams, only the best placed car in a team will be taken into account for points.

-       It is clarified that a car which has not started from the start line within 20 seconds will be considered as retired and will be able to restart under Rally 2 on the subsequent day.

-       In order to give flexibility to non-priority drivers, it is proposed that these drivers may continue to use the previously homologated specifications of asphalt tyres for one additional year.

RALLYING

-       From 1 January 2016, R5 cars will be recognised as the top competition car in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) and the S2000-Rally 1.6 turbo car will no longer be eligible in these events.

-       In order to harmonise the number of results counting towards ERC titles, the maximum number of events counting towards the ERC 3 Championship has been increased to seven.

-       In order to reduce costs for ERC Junior competitors, the tyre lottery will no longer exist from 2015, enabling competitors to re-use tyres from one rally to another.

-       When allowed in the rally Supplementary Regulations, Priority drivers may now be allowed to participate in the shakedown on ERC events, after the results of the Qualifying Stage are official.

-       A specific Priority status will be assigned to drivers registered in the FIA R-GT Cup, enabling them to be seeded amongst the P3 drivers during the WRC and ERC Cup events.

-       In order to help increase the number of participants in the FIA African Rally Championship, cars homologated by Motorsport South Africa, as well as historical cars conforming to Appendix K, will be eligible in the Championship.

-       Similarly, in the FIA Asia-Pacific and NACAM Rally Championships, additional eligible categories have been added and the APRC series may also permit ASN approved cars to compete and score points. Eligible categories are available from the Championship Secretariats.

FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

The 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar is confirmed as follows:

12 April                     GBR                 6 Hours of Silverstone*

2 May                        BEL                  6 Heures de Spa‐Francorchamps

13-14 June                FRA                 24 Heures du Mans

30 August                  DEU                 6 Hours of Nürburgring*

19 September           USA                 6 Hours of CoTA – Lone Star Le Mans*

11 October                JPN                  6 Hours of Fuji

01 November            CHN                 6 Hours of Shanghai*

21 November            BHR                 6 Hours of Bahrain*

* Subject to ASN’s confirmation.

A series of changes were made to the sporting and technical regulations for 2015, which are available on fia.com.                

FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

25‐26 April                 PRT                  Montalegre

15‐17 May                  BEL                  Mettet

23‐24 May                  GBR                 Lydden Hill

19‐21 June                 DEU                 Buxtehude

03‐05 July                  SWE                 Höljes*

07‐08 August             CAN                 Trois‐Rivières

21‐23 August             NOR                 Hell‐Lanke

04‐06 September       FRA                  Lohéac

18‐20 September       ESP                  Barcelona*

03‐04 October            TUR                 Istanbul Park

17‐18 October            ITA                   Franciacorta

27‐29 November       ARG                 San Luis

* Subject to circuit homologation.

GT COMMISSION

The FIA GT Commission, in agreement with the Endurance Commission, has set up a new, single system for driver categorisation, valid for all disciplines and championships that wish to apply it. The FIA Driver Categorisation Regulations, the application form as well as the 2015 Driver Categorisation List are available at: http://www.fia.com/fia-drivercategorisation

The FIA GT Commission aims to launch a new Cup, the FIA GT3 WORLD CUP. A call for expressions of interest has been launched to identify a candidate interested in acting as the official and exclusive agent of the FIA for the organization and promotion of the Cup.

OFF-ROAD COMMISSION

Teams entered in the FIA World Rallycross Championship will be allowed to change their Drivers for each Competition.

It will be mandatory for all cars competing in the FIA World Rallycross Championship to use an engine control unit (ECU) approved and homologated by the FIA.

To allow confrontation between World Championship and European Championship Drivers during the qualifying Heats, before splitting them for the separate final phases, qualifying Heats of the World Championship may be shared with the qualifying Heats of the European Championship (and vice versa) in Competitions combining both Championships. Specific Semi-Finals and a Final for European Championship Drivers in the SuperCar Category will be introduced.

SINGLE-SEATER COMMISSION

The start of the FIA Middle East Formula 3 Cup has been scheduled for 2016. The FIA will launch a call for expressions of interest in order to designate a promoter / organiser for this Cup at the beginning of next year.

Changes made to the 2015 FIA Formula 3 European Championship sporting regulations are available on fia.com.

TOURING CAR COMMISSION

A Commission proposal to endorse and publish two separate and distinct levels of technical regulations has been approved. One is suited to a higher level of national competition and the second is suited to a more production‐based, lower‐cost level of national competition. These technical regulations will be known as FIA TCN‐1 & FIA TCN‐2.

TCN-1 are those technical regulations used in the British Touring Championship.

TCN-2 are those regulations used in the Argentine Tourismo Nacionale Championship.

Further changes made to the sporting and technical regulations are available on fia.com, including the introduction of a limit of only two changes of driver per season.

The WTCC calendar for 2015 was approved.

6-8 March                  ARG                 Termas de Rio Hondo

17-19 April                 MOR                Moulay El Hassan

1-3 May                     HUN                Hugaroring

15-16 May                 DEU                 Nordschleife

5-7 June                    RUS                 Moscow Raceway

19-21 June                SVK                  Slovakiaring*

26-28 June                FRA                 Paul Ricard

10-12 July                 PRT                  Vilareal

11-13 September      JPN                  Japan (TBC)

25-27 September      CHN                 Shanghai

30 Oct – 1 Nov          THA                 Buriram

20-22 November       QAT                 Losail*          

* Subject to Event Promotion Agreement.

HISTORIC MOTOR SPORT COMMISSION

To reduce costs and improve safety, the maximum number of tyres that can be used per rally run on asphalt is to be set at 14, within the competitions counting towards the FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship.

HILL CLIMB COMMISSION

Full points will henceforth be allocated in all groups with at least three vehicles entered (changed from the previous number of five), in both the FIA European Hill Climb Championship and the FIA International Hill Climb Cup.

WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORT COMMISSION

A young talent category for female drivers supported by the Commission has been introduced. Miss Tamara Molinaro (ITA), a young Rally talent aged 16, was selected for the 2014 and 2015 years.

MEDICAL COMMISSION

New FIA Anti-Doping Regulations have been approved and will enter into force on 01 January 2015. They are compliant with the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code.

VOLUNTEERS AND OFFICIALS COMMISSION

An International Licence for all persons designated by the FIA to act as officials at an event will be launched at the end of 2015, as well as a FIA web platform dedicated to volunteers and officials.

APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION FOR 2015 INTERNATIONAL SERIES

A list of 60 International Series, for the different disciplines presented by the ASNs, was approved by the WMSC, available on fia.com.

DRIFTING WORKING GROUP

A new working group has been instituted within the FIA to evaluate how Drifting could be handled by the FIA as a new recognized motor sport discipline, and should this happen, how the FIA would establish the basic safety, circuits and regulations standards. One of the main objectives is to help the ASNs with the process of recognising and implementing the discipline within their own motor sport structures.

FIA SPORTS GRANT PROGRAMME

The Senate and the FIA Sport Funding Review Commission, in charge of the management of the new Sport Fund, approved a range of projects presented by the FIA-affiliated sporting clubs (ASNs/ACNs). A total of 52 projects making a total of €2,121,083 will be distributed in 2014 under the FIA Sport Grants Programme.

ASN DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE

The Task Force instituted in 2012 announces the launch of the “Global Training Programme” which intends to offer a unique opportunity for the leaders of its 138 affiliated sporting clubs (ASNs/ACNs) to get access to training sessions worldwide. The objective is to help clubs to develop accessible, strong and sustainable motor sport in their respective countries. 

FIA SPORT CONFERENCE 2015

The third edition of the FIA Sport Conference will be held from 8 to 10 July 2015, in Mexico City. It will bring together the FIA’s 138 National Sporting Authorities and will showcase an enlarged FIA Sport MotorEx with exhibitors of the motor sport industry from around the world. Hosted in a 4,000 square meter exhibition centre, this will be a unique opportunity for the industry to meet the authorities that are responsible for the purchasing, prescription, regulation, selection and certification of motor sport at the national and international level.

2015 INTERNATIONAL SPORTING CALENDAR

The agreed international sporting calendar for 2015 can be found on FIA.com.

NEXT WMSC

The next meeting of the WMSC will take place on Friday 20 March in Geneva.

ANNEX I

Article 41: Virtual Safety Car (VSC)

41.1 The VSC procedure may be initiated to neutralise a race upon the order of the clerk of the course. It will normally be used when double waved yellow flags are needed on any section of track and competitors or officials may be in danger, but the circumstances are not such as to warrant use of the safety car itself.

41.2 When the order is given to initiate the VSC procedure a message "VSC DEPLOYED" will be displayed on the official messaging system and all FIA light panels will display “VSC”.

41.3 No car may be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person at any time whilst the VSC procedure is in use. This will apply whether any such car is being driven on the track, the pit entry or the pit lane.

41.4 No car may enter the pits whilst the VSC procedure is in use unless it is for the purpose of changing tyres.

41.5 All competing cars must reduce speed and stay above the minimum time set by the FIA ECU at least once in each marshalling sector (a marshalling sector is defined as the section of track between each of the FIA light panels). All cars must also be above this minimum time when the FIA light panels change to green (see 41.7 below). The stewards may impose either of the penalties under Article 16.3a), b), c) or d) on any driver who fails to stay above the minimum time as required by the above.

41.6 With the exception of the cases listed under a) to d) below, no driver may overtake another car on the track whilst the VSC procedure is in use.

The exceptions are :

a) When entering the pits a driver may pass another car remaining on the track after he has

reached the first safety car line.

b) When leaving the pits a driver may overtake, or be overtaken by, another car on the track

before he reaches the second safety car line.

c) Whilst in the pit entry, pit lane or pit exit a driver may overtake another car which is also in one of these three areas.

d) If any car slows with an obvious problem.

41.7 When the clerk of the course decides it is safe to end the VSC procedure the message "VSC ENDING" will be displayed on the official messaging system and, at any time between 10 and 15 seconds later, “VSC” on the FIA light panels will change to green and drivers may continue racing immediately. After 30 seconds the green lights will be extinguished.

41.8 Each lap completed whist the VSC procedure is in use will be counted as a race lap.