4 new races in 22-race F1 calendar announced for 2014

Dubrovnik (Croatia), 27 Sept 2013:  India was officially dropped from the 2014 calendar of the Formula One World Championship and four new races in Austria, New Jersey, Russia and Mexico added at a meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) which took place here on Friday.

Except Austria, the other three to the 22-race calendar have a provisional status and will host the race only after the circuits are homologated.

According to the FIA website, the FIA President, Jean Todt, opened the meeting by thanking Matko Bolanca, President of the Croatian Car & Karting Federation (CCKF), and Zrinko Gregurek, Secretary General of the CCKF and WMSC member, for their hospitality and for hosting the FIA family.

The following decisions were taken by the World Motor Sport Council:

FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

As confirmed earlier today by the FIA and the Formula 1 Group, the framework for the implementation of the 2013 Concorde Agreement has now come into force. This agreement provides the FIA with significantly improved financial means to pursue its regulatory missions and to reflect the enhanced role undertaken by the FIA in motor sport. The parties have agreed a strong and stable sporting governance framework which includes the Formula 1 Group, the FIA and the participating teams. The agreement lays down solid foundations for the further development of the FIA Formula One World Championship.

The members of the WMSC congratulated the FIA President for the successful and favourable conclusion to the negotiations. The members also accepted his proposal to create a new task force, after the FIA Presidential Election, charged with proposing the allocation of the additional financial resources for the FIA and its membership.

One of the noteworthy aspects of the new 2013 Concorde Agreement is the new tender procedure for appointing single suppliers in the tyre and fuel categories, for the FIA F1 World Championship.

In this new process, the FIA will be confirmed as the body in charge of conducting the tender process. The Commercial Rights Holder will be entitled to run the commercial negotiations with potential suppliers, with a view to the selected single supplier being officially appointed by the WMSC.

In order to cover the transition period and considering the contracts already settled by FOM and the Teams with Pirelli, the WMSC today confirmed that Pirelli may continue to supply tyres to competitors in the FIA F1 World Championship, subject to the requisite technical and safety standards of the FIA being met.

The 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar is confirmed as follows:

16 March	Grand Prix of Australia
30 March	Grand Prix of Malaysia
06 April	Grand Prix of Bahrain
20 April	Grand Prix of China
27 April	Grand Prix of Korea (provisional)
11 May	Grand Prix of Spain
25 May	Grand Prix of Monaco
01 June	Grand Prix of America, New Jersey (provisional*)
08 June	Grand Prix of Canada
22 June	Grand Prix of Austria
06 July	Grand Prix of Great Britain
20 July	Grand Prix of Germany (Hockenheim)
27 July	Grand Prix of Hungary
24 August	Grand Prix of Belgium
07 September	Grand Prix of Italy
21 September	Grand Prix of Singapore
05 October	Grand Prix of Russia (Sochi)
12 October	Grand Prix of Japan
26 October	Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
09 November	Grand Prix of USA (Austin)
16 November	Grand Prix of Mexico (provisional*)
30 November	Grand Prix of Brazil

* Subject to the circuit approval

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP AND RALLYING

The 2014 FIA World Rally Championship calendar is confirmed as follows:

19 January	Rallye Monte Carlo
09 February	Rally Sweden
09 March	Rally Mexico
06 April	Rally de Portugal
11 May	Rally Argentina
01 June	Rally d’Italia
29 June	Rally Poland (multi-country event)
03 August	Rally Finland
24 August	Rallye Deutschland
14 September	Rally Australia
05 October	Rallye de France
26 October	Rally de España
16 November	Rally of Great Britain

Note: The finish date given is the Sunday of the rally weekend. Itineraries are however subject to final confirmation by event organisers.

It is clarified that the hand-cutting of tyres is forbidden in the events of the FIA European Rally Cup, as well as the FIA European Rally Championship.

The 2014 FIA European Rally Championship calendar will be proposed to the WMSC at a later date.

FIA WORLD CUP FOR CROSS COUNTRY RALLIES

The 2014 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies calendar is confirmed as follows:

16 February	Baja Russia – Northern Forest
16 March	Baja Italia
10 April	Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
25 April	Sealine Cross Country Rally
25 May	Pharaons Rally
20 July	Baja España Aragon
17 August	Hungarian Baja
31 August	Baja Poland
27 September	Rallye OiLibya du Maroc*
01 November	27th Baja Portalegre 500

* Subject to the 2013 observation report

FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

In order to increase competitiveness, from 2014 the title of FIA World Endurance Manufacturers’ Champion will be awarded to the manufacturer scoring the greatest number of points with two cars (three cars if under Article 16.A) in the general classification.

The 2014 Sporting Regulations will be adjusted in order to take into consideration the new LMP1 Technical Regulations which will be implemented next season, taking into consideration the new distinction between the light category cars for privateers only (LMP-L) and the Hybrid category cars for both manufacturers and privateers (LMP-H), and the allocation of energy.

FIA FORMULA 4

An updated framework for the 2014 Sporting Regulations was agreed, with an emphasis on safety and ensuring that races are held on circuits holding a valid licence of Grade 4, minimum.

The Technical Regulations – designed to appeal to the widest range of stakeholders – were approved, in addition to the introduction of Homologation Regulations to limit costs related to engines, chassis and major consumption parts.

FIA FORMULA E CHAMPIONSHIP 

The 2014/2015 FIA Formula E Championship calendar is confirmed as follows:

20 September 2014	Beijing, China*
18 October 2014	Putrajaya, Malaysia
8 November 2014	Hong Kong
13 December 2014	Punta del Este, Uruguay
10 January 2015	Buenos Aires, Argentina
14 February 2015	Los Angeles, USA
18 April 2015	Miami, USA
9 May 2015	Monte Carlo, Monaco*
30 May 2015	Berlin, Germany
27 June 2015	London, UK

All events remain subject to FIA Track Homologation
* Subject to ASN approval

HISTORIC MOTOR SPORT

In order to increase the attraction of FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship events, from 2014 a further class for Group A cars in Category 4 has been added to distinguish between cars under and over 2 litres.

To broaden the range of eligible cars in the FIA Historic Hill Climb Championship, two specific classes within Category 4 will be introduced from 2014. Dedicated to ‘Sport Nazionale’ cars, D6 will be specific to cars under 2500cc and D7 for those under 3000cc. Similarly, single-seater and two-seater racing cars from the 1983-1990 period will become eligible for Category 5, divided into two classes for under 1600cc (E4) and under 2000 cc (E5).

FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

Following the proposal by the Promoter of the FIA European Rallycross Championship, the WMSC has approved the creation of a new FIA World Rallycross Championship from 2014, on the condition the calendar is based on a total of 11 or 12 events, with nine or 10 European events plus one event in Asia or Africa and one event on the American continent.

The formats of the FIA European Rallycross Championships for the support categories, TouringCar and Super1600, are maintained, with the calendar comprising the European events in the World Championship. The format of the European Championship for the flagship category, SuperCar, will be adapted and concentrated over five of the 10 European events in the World Championship. This will also have a specific classification for non-permanent drivers not entered in the entirety of the World Championship.

FIA INTERNATIONAL HILL-CLIMB CUP

As a result of a review of the development and restructuring of the FIA’s activities in hill climb, from 2014 the FIA International Hill Climb Challenge and the FIA European Hill Climb Cup will be merged into one competition known as the FIA International Hill Climb Cup (IHCC). As a consequence, the regulations concerning the Groups of vehicles will be amended along with the associated awards.

GT

The principles of the convergence between the current GTE cars (Le Mans) and the FIA GT3 have been commonly defined by the FIA and ACO and agreed by all the GT manufacturers. The aim is to present the new GT Technical Regulations, based on new categories (GT+ and GT), at the WMSC in June 2014 for implementation in 2016.

DRIVERS’ COMMISSION

In order to ensure the voice of drivers is heard during the FIA decision process, the WMSC agreed that a driver representative be designated in the various FIA Commissions and Working Groups. In addition, and in co-operation with the FIA Circuits Department, the Commission has designated a member to work with various bodies in relation to circuit safety, in particular.

President of the Drivers’ Commission, Emerson Fittipaldi, also advised the WMSC that the Minister of the Cities of Brazil, along with an Embassy delegation, participated in their meeting and presented the various initiatives implemented in this region to reinforce road safety while involving motor sport.

WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORT

The Commission continues to focus its activities on promoting the role of women in all areas of motor sport and, in addition to the work it is undertaking with the FIA Action for Road Safety campaign, is broadening its remit to encourage more women to become engineers, volunteers and officials.

IOC RECOGNITION

The FIA President confirmed to the members of the WMSC that the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has granted full recognition to the FIA in accordance with the Rules of the Olympic Charter.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTING CODE

Following a proposal from a dedicated review commission, and after consultation with the ASNs, the WMSC unanimously approved a complete revision of the International Sporting Code. This version will come into effect on 1 January 2014.

MOTOR SPORT TASK FORCE

The Motor Sport Task Force will nominate its members after the FIA Presidential Election.

ASN DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE

The FIA President underlined the importance of the work of the ASN Development Task Force, reinforcing the need to help ASNs grow the sport at grass roots level round the world.

ends