JUNE 30, 2004

World Council backs Mosley

The FIA World Motor Sport Council met in Paris but there were few decisions of note except that the body backed Max Mosley's campaign to reduce speeds in Formula 1, illustrating the need by using lap times from Imola, Melbourne and Monaco, which argue that speeds are now too high. The council voted unanimously to require the Formula 1 Technical Working Group to propose measures to reduce the performance of the cars in accordance with Article 7.5 of the Concorde Agreement. The FIA said that if there is no agreement it will impose measures in October, which will come into force three months laer in time for the 2005 season. This means that teams have to find a solution as it would be impossible for them to build cars in the time available.

The World Council also blocked the following 19 dates for Formula 1 races: March 6, March 20, April 3, April 17, April 24, May 8, May 22, June 5, June 12, June 26, July 3, July 17, July 31, August 21, September 4, September 11, September 25, October 9 and October 23. This means that if there are 19 events there will be four back-to-back races in the course of the season, the extra one being in early September. The teams are not bound to accept any more than 17 races but in the past have shown themselves willing to acquiese to Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone on the understanding that he pays them more money.

Other decisions include the approval of an FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2005 with races in South America, Macau, Istanbul and at various locations across Europe, and a rejection of attempts to solve the current problems in the world of karting.