Paris, 5 March 2021: The World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) has finalised different calendars for various motorsports disciplines and one that India will be most-interested is the revised date for Asia Pacific Rally Championship 2021 (APRC) which will kick-start the five-round season with the first round at Chennai from April 23 to 25, simultaneously run with Asia Zone and INRC events.

The Madras Motor Sports Club will host the South India Rally Championship on these dates and simultaneously run the APRC opening round to become a new venue for the FIA continental championship in India. India last hosted the APRC in Chikmagalur in 2017. Three-times APRC champion and Arjuna Awardee, Gaurav Gill, will be aiming for a fourth title as he rejoins the APRC campaign, albeit in Yellow colours, this time as a brand ambassador for JK Tyre. Gill joined the elite Indian club by winning his 7th INRC title to become the highest decorated rally driver along with Naren Kumar.

The FIA President reminded council members that in the 12-months since the last physically-attended WMSC meeting in March 2020, the FIA has maintained a strong level of governance across all disciplines and all regions despite these unprecedented times.

The FIA President led a one-minute silence which was observed by members in memory of all those from the global motor sport community who have fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also paid tribute to the Finnish rally driver Hannu Mikkola who passed away recently. The President said: “Hannu was a great champion and a gentleman. I’ve had the privilege of being his co-driver many years ago. My thoughts are with his loved ones and the families of the members of the FIA community who passed away due to the pandemic.”

The following is a summary of the decisions taken during the meeting:

FIA Formula One World Championship

The World Council has agreed to grant a one-year extension to the existing exclusive tyre supply contract with Pirelli to reflect the original intention of the 2018 tyre tender and remain within the overall technical framework in the best interests of all relevant stakeholders. The COVID-19 pandemic obliged the FIA and Formula 1 to implement emergency measures that included the cancellation of tyre development tests last year and the postponement of planned new technical regulations – which included 18-inch tyres – from 2021 to 2022. As a result, 13-inch tyres will be used during the 2021 season, with a move to 18-inch tyres in 2022.

The FIA Safety Department presented the findings of the investigation into the incident involving Romain Grosjean at the 2020 FIA Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix – further details of which can be found here.

Following the confirmation of Portugal as the venue for round three, the revised 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar is as follows:

Formula 1 - 2021 Calendar

GP #DateVenue- CountryTrack128 March 2021BahrainSakhir218 AprilItalyImola32 MayPortugalPortimao49 MaySpainBarcelona523 MayMonacoMonaco66 JuneAzerbaijanBaku713 JuneCanadaMontreal827 JuneFranceLe Castellet94 JulyAustriaSpielberg1018 JulyGreat BritainSilverstone111 AugustHungaryBudapest1229 AugustBelgiumSpa-Francorchamps135 SeptemberNetherlandsZandvoort1412 SeptemberItalyMonza1526 SeptemberRussiaSochi163 OctoberSingaporeSingapore1710 OctoberJapanSuzuka1824 OctoberUSAAustin1931 OctoberMexicoMexico City207 NovemberBrazilSão Paulo2121 NovemberAustraliaMelbourne225 DecemberSaudi ArabiaJeddah2312 DecemberAbu DhabiYas MarinaSubject to circuit homologation

FIA World Rally Championship

The Council approved the final Rally1 technical regulations, including an update of the 1.6 turbo engine details.

FIA Rally - 2022 WRC and ERC Sporting Pyramid

The principles of a Rally Sporting Pyramid, to be implemented for the FIA World Rally Championship with complementary details for the FIA European Rally Championship, have been approved. The ambition of this new structure is to align the championships names with the car categories names (e.g. Rally2 cars compete in WRC2), to identify a common theme of Open and Junior categories between the series, and to reinforce the positioning of the FIA European Rally Championship both as a feeder  series for the WRC and a goal in itself by creating a clear pathway.

In application of these principles, the WRC2 classification, open to the Rally2 category, will feature an Open Championship and a Junior Championship for drivers under 30. The WRC3 classification, open to the Rally3 class, will also feature an Open Championship and a Junior Championship for drivers under 29.

Similarly, the ERC3 classification, open to the Rally3 category, will feature an Open Championship and a Junior Championship for drivers under 28, while the ERC4 classification, open to the Rally4 and Rally5 classes, will equally have an Open Championship and a Junior Championship for drivers under 27.

In addition to age limits, experience restrictions will be implemented in the Junior Championships. As a result, former champions will not be allowed to put their titles back into play.

For both the WRC and ERC classifications, awards for Rookies, with less than three participations before the start of the season, and Masters, for drivers over 40 years old not included on the FIA Regional Priority List, will be created.

As a next step, details will be defined to reflect these principles in the sporting regulations.

FIA World Endurance Championship

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, it was necessary to revise the 2021 calendar. A revised calendar has been approved as follows: 

26-27 AprilBelgiumOfficial Prologue - Spa-Francorchamps1 MayBelgiumTOTAL 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps13 JunePortugal8 Hours of Portimão18 JulyItaly6 Hours of Monza21-22 AugustFrance24 Hours of Le Mans26 SeptemberJapan6 Hours of Fuji20 NovemberBahrain8 Hours of Bahrainnew dates

FIA Women in Motorsport Commission

The final phase of the 2020 FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme came to a successful conclusion at the Ferrari Driver Academy in Maranello, Italy. Postponed from November 2020 to January, due to the pandemic, the five-day assessment was the final step for the four finalists after nearly a year of selection and evaluation. During a live broadcast on the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission’s Facebook page, Dutch/Belgian born Maya Weug was announced as the winner and became the first-ever female driver to become a student of the Academy. Weug will also contest a 2021 Formula 4 championship certified by the FIA. The three other finalists, Doriane Pin, Antonella Bassani and Julia Ayoub, were each awarded by Ferrari a test session in a 488 Challenge EVO.

The FIA Girls on Track - Rising Stars is a four-year programme and 2021 will host a second call for talent among the FIA ASNs and the same process will result in a second female driver potentially becoming part of the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2022.

Michèle Mouton, the Commission President, received widespread praise from council members for her vision and leadership of the Girls on Track project.

FIA Digital Motorsport Commission 

The Commission President Anna Nordkvist, of Sweden, was introduced to WMSC members. The task of the new Commission is to grow participation at grassroots level and position the FIA as a key stakeholder in the Digital and Esports industry. It was also agreed that one of the aims of the Commission should be to encourage participation among female Esports competitors.

FIA Karting Championships

Approval was given for the re-scheduling of two events on the 2021 calendar.

The FIA Karting European Championship event (OK & OK-JUNIOR) on the Circuito Internacional Zuera (Spain), originally scheduled for 15-18 April 2021 has been rearranged for 22-25 July 2021.

The FIA Karting European Championship event (KZ & KZ2) and FIA Karting Academy Trophy on the Adria Karting Raceway (Italy), originally scheduled for 29 April-2 May 2021, has been rearranged for 12-15 August 2021.

The revised 2021 calendars are as follows:

FIA Karting World Championship - OK28-31 OctoberBrazilBiriguiFIA Karting World Championship - Junior28-31 October Brazil  BiriguiFIA Karting World Championship - KZ02-05 SeptemberSwedenKristianstadFIA Karting European Championship - OK13-16 MayBelgiumGenk27-30 MayFranceAunay-Les-Bois08-11 JulyItaly Sarno22-25 JulySpainZueraFIA Karting European Championship – Junior13-16 MayBelgiumGenk27-30 MayFranceAunay-Les-Bois08-11 JulyItalySarno22-25 JulySpainZueraFIA Karting European Championship - KZ17-20 JuneGermanyWackersdorf12-15 AugustItalyAdriaFIA Karting European Championship - KZ217-20 JuneGermanyWackersdorf12-15 AugustItalyAdriaFIA Karting European Championship - Superkart22-24 October FranceLe Mans - BugattiFIA Karting International Super Cup - KZ202-05 September Sweden  KristianstadFIA Karting Academy Trophy17-20 JuneGermanyWackersdorf12-15 AugustItalyAdria02-05 SeptemberSweden   Kristianstadsubject to track homologation or re-homologation

FIA WTCR - World Touring Car Cup

There are several minor updates to the WTCR Sporting Regulations, including an extension to the registration deadline for full season entries as a result of the later start to the season previously announced. The new deadline is May 2, 2021.

FIA World Cup for Cross-Country – Rallies and Bajas

Date changes to the 2021 calendars were approved. The BP Ultimate Portugal Cross-Country Rally, previously the opening round of the World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies, will now take place from 16-21 September due to the implementation of further COVID-19 restrictions in the country.

The Hungarian Baja, a qualifying round of the World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and the newly introduced European Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, has been moved to 5-8 August for operational reasons.

FIA Single-Seater Commission FIA Formula 3 World CupThe FIA Formula 3 World Cup has been confirmed on the International Sporting Calendar and is scheduled to take place on 21 November 2021 in Macau, China (subject to contract with the promoter). Formula 4Sporting and Technical Regulations for the Formula 4 element of the 2021 FIA Motorsport Games were approved.

FIA Rally Commission

In the FIA Regional Rally Championships, changes to the following 2021 calendars due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have been approved:

FIA European Rally Championship

06-08 May (initially 25-27 March)PortugalAzores Rallye18-20 JunePoland78 Rally Poland101-03 JulyLatviaRally Liepaja123-25 JulyItalyRally di Roma Capitale127-29 AugustCzech Rep.Barum Czech Rally Zlin124-26 September (initially 12-14 March)PortugalRallye Fafe22-24 OctoberHungaryRally Hungary118-20 November (initially 06-08 May)SpainRally Islas Canarias1

1 Round of the FIA ERC Junior Championships FIA European Rally Trophy – Benelux Rally Trophy

09-10 JulyLuxembourgRallye Lëtzebuerg28-29 AugustBelgiumAarova Rally05-07 NovemberBelgiumRallye du Condroz

 FIA European Rally Trophy – Celtic Rally Trophy

18-20 JuneIrelandDonegal International Rally25-26 SeptemberIrelandCork 20 International Rally19-20 November (initially 20-21 August)Great BritainUlster International Rally

 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship – Asia Cup

23-25 April (initially 26-28 March)IndiaSouth Inda Rally10-12 SeptemberJapanRally Hokkaido22-24 OctoberChinaRally Longyou

 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship – Pacific Cup

15-17 OctoberAustraliaAdelaide Hills Rally27-28 November (initially 20-21 Nov.)AustraliaCoffs Harbour Rally

 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship – Final

27-28 November (initially 20-21 Nov.)AustraliaCoffs Harbour Rally

 FIA Middle East Rally Championship

28-30 JanuaryQatarManateq Qatar International Rally20-22 MayJordanJordan Rally03-05 SeptemberLebanonRally of Lebanon24-26 SeptemberCyprusCyprus Rally04-06 NovemberKuwaitRally of KuwaitTBA (initially 18-20 February)OmanRally of Oman

 FIA African Rally Championship

23-25 AprilKenyaEquator Rally Kenya25-26 JulyTanzaniaRally of Tanzania20-22 AugustUgandaPearl of Africa Uganda Rally24-26 SeptemberZambiaZambia International Rally05-06 NovemberSouth AfricaRally of South AfricaTBA (initially 19-21 March)RwandaRwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally

 FIA NACAM Rally Championship

19-20 March (initially 12-13 March)MexicoRally Colima02-04 JulyCanadaRallye Int. Baie des Chaleurs13-14 AugustMexicoRally Guanajuato03-04 September (initially 26-28 August)MexicoRally Sierra Juarez25-26 September (initially 28-30 May)BarbadosRally Barbados27-28 NovemberMexicoRally Montanas

 FIA RGT Cup

21-24 JanuaryMonacoRallye Monte-Carlo07-09 MayFranceRallye Ain Jura23-25 JulyItalyRally di Roma Capitale13-15 August (initially 25-26 June)BelgiumYpres Rally14-17 OctoberSpainRallyRACC Catalunya

Note: The other FIA Regional Rally Championship calendars remain unchanged. FIA GT Commission 

For a new competition designed for electric-powered GT cars, the council has selected the Promoter and will work towards concluding the next steps as soon as possible.Council has chosen the exclusive battery cell supplier.

Sporting regulations have been approved for both GT3 competitions scheduled for this year’s FIA Motorsport Games, the GT Cup for Silver/Bronze driver pairings and the GT Sprint Cup for a single driver of any ranking.

FIA Touring Car Commission

For a new competition designed for electric-powered Touring Cars, the council has selected the Promoter and will work towards concluding the next steps as soon as possible.

Sporting regulations have been approved for the FIA Motorsport Games: Touring Car Cup.

FIA Off-Road Commission

Amendments to the Technical Regulations for the FIA RX2e Championship, the first-ever FIA electric rallycross championship, which starts in 2021, were approved. Six race weekends are planned for the inaugural RX2e season, running alongside FIA World RX.

FIA Hill Climb Commission

An amendment to the FIA Hill Climb Regulations (Championship, Cup and Masters) was approved. The change allows FIA technical delegates to install randomly data loggers on cars to check the engine RPM during the competition. For Category 1 cars, this will allow crosschecking the RPM values submitted by competitors when registering their car in the “Performance Factor” system that decides in which Group the car is classified. In Category 2, checking RPM values is part of the on-going process of performance analysis of the cars.

The following calendar changes for the FIA European Hill Climb Championship for 2021 have been approved.

2021 FIA European Hill Climb Championship (updated)

07-09 MayPortugalRampa da Boticas14-16 MaySpainSubida Internacional al Fito28-30 MayCzech RepublicEcce Homo Sternberk (1)11-13 JuneGermanyGlasbachrennen25-27 JuneItalyCoppa Paolino Teodori (1)16-18 JulySlovakiaDobšinský kopec (1)23-25 JulyPolandLimanowa13-15 AugustSwitzerlandSt. Ursanne - Les Rangiers27-29 AugustSloveniaGHD Petrol Ilirska Bistrica17-19 SeptemberCroatiaBuzetski dani

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

The following calendar changes for FIA Historic Championships in 2021 have been approved.2021 FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship calendar (updated)

09-11 AprilItaly36° Sanremo Rally Storico06-08 MayCzech Republic30. Historic Vltava Rally24-26 JuneHungary54. Mecsek Rallye15-17 JulyAustriaRally Weiz13-14 AugustFinlandLahti Historic Rally02-04 SeptemberSpainRally Asturias Historico23-25 SeptemberItaly33° Rally Elba Storico21-23 OctoberSwitzerlandRallye International du Valais19-20 NovemberSpain69 Rally Costa Brava

 2021 FIA Historic Hill Climb Championship calendar (updated)

28-30 MayCzech RepublicEcce Homo Sternberk18-20 JuneSloveniaGHD Gorjanci02-04 JulyItalyTrento Bondone09-11 JulyItalyCesana Sestriere27-29 AugustSloveniaGHD Petrol Ilirska Bistrica17-19 SeptemberCroatiaBuzetski Dani24-26 SeptemberItalyCoppa Chianti Classico

 2021 FIA Trophy for Historic Regularity Rallies (updated) 

11-13 NovemberPoland10th Rally Poland Historic

2021 FIA Historic Formula 3 European Cup 

16-18 JulyNetherlandsZandvoort

 FIA Truck Racing Commission

Following a successful tender process, an exclusive supplier of biofuel for the FIA European Truck Racing Championship, covering the term from 2021-2023, has been selected, making FIA ETRC the first FIA-regulated competition to switch to a fuel fully originated from renewable sources (HVO biofuel). The announcement will be made in due course.

FIA Drag Racing Commission

In order to standarise class structure and regulations across national drag racing competitions, amended Technical Regulations and Race Procedures for FIA Drag Racing have been approved, with the addition of new “Sportsman” and “Grassroots” categories. The aim of this work is to support ASNs by:

Enabling national level competitors to be able to compete across borders more easily, increasing entry numbers for all eventsAssisting national level technical officials to maintain a higher safety and regulatory standardMinimising the resources that an ASN must invest in Drag Racing by having the regulations instead maintained by the FIA, andIncreasing the resale value of competition cars by making them eligible to compete in more markets.

FIA Drifting Commission

Sporting regulations have been approved for both the FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup and the FIA Motorsport Games: Drifting Cup.

Sport Clubs Development Programme

The WMSC members were informed that applications had opened for the Sport Clubs Development Programme (SCDP) – an FIA Innovation Fund (FIF) initiative which provides support for the management and development of motor sport activities through an intensive, two-year mentoring process from FIA Experts. The closing date for applications is March 31.

Upcoming World Motor Sport Council Meetings 

Dates of the FIA World Motor Sport Council meetings in 2021 are as follows:

09 JulyMonaco, on the occasion of the FIA Sport and Mobility Conference15 OctoberParis15 DecemberParis, on the occasion of the FIA Annual General Assembly