The rally bit from today's FIA meeting

[MJW]

WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Commencing 2011 each World Rally Championship (WRC) event must include one special stage on the final day for the purpose of enhancing television coverage. The fastest drivers and co-drivers will be awarded additional points (3-2-1) in accordance with the general classification of this stage.

An FIA Production Car Cup for drivers of 2WD cars entered in the Production Car World Rally Championship (PWRC) will be introduced in 2011 to encourage competitors in Group R cars. At each round of the PWRC, a separate classification will be produced for the drivers of 2WD cars and points allocated according to the same scale as the Championship. The Production Car Cup will be awarded to the driver who has scored the highest number of points. As entrants in the PWRC, drivers of 2WD cars must nominate their events from a list and can score points in both the PWRC and Production Car Cup.

From 2011, cars eligible to contest the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship must have a normally aspirated engine with a cylinder capacity of less than 2000cc. There will be no FIA WRC Cup from 2011.

After the fourth event in the 2011 WRC calendar, Manufacturer and WRC Teams are permitted to use a maximum of two engines per car for the remaining nine events.

Commencing from 2011, all cars will start special stages at one-minute intervals, to increase interest for spectators.

From 2011, Priority 2 drivers who have contested more than two consecutive rounds of the World Rally Championship will be awarded Priority 1 status for the remainder of the season. These drivers must then comply with the regulations pertaining to WRC Teams.

A specialist group representing interested parties will review the possibility of introducing GT cars to WRC events.

The FIA in association with the WRC promoter will establish an Academy for young drivers.

[MJW]

so no pre even tests for PSWRT next year, like Mexico, Jordan, NZ and Japan this year. If as expected PSWRT is a private team in 2011 they will be bound by the same rules if more than 2 consequtive rallies entered.

[MrJan]

Commencing 2011 each World Rally Championship (WRC) event must include one special stage on the final day for the purpose of enhancing television coverage. The fastest drivers and co-drivers will be awarded additional points (3-2-1) in accordance with the general classification of this stage.

Oh dear. Why does this make me remember this advert?

[youtube]sjI-qh37xf0[/youtube]

[AndyRAC]

Not sure about the bonus points, was tried in 1999 at Corsica and Finland - and promptly dropped. Will MotorsTV or Dave have each stage live?
Let the GT cars in ASAP.......

[AndyRAC]

Not sure about the bonus points, was tried in 1999 at Corsica and Finland - and promptly dropped. Will MotorsTV or Dave have each stage live?
Let the GT cars in ASAP...

[RS]

Just when it looked like WRC was on the right path...

TV stages good, bonus points bad. And what is the thinking behind the 1 minute intervals? That will cause havoc on dusty gravel events.

[Francis44]

1 minute intervals?! Well dusty stages will be a problem.

[AndyRAC]

Having seen the F1 Calendar, which finishes 27th Nov, what will happen with the WRC calendar? Surely they want to avoid clashes, and finish after the F1 has finished. I somehow doubt it though.

[MrJan]

I hadn't seen the bit about 1 minute interval. Who thought that having an ex co-driver at the head of the FIA would lead to rallying being treated better? Firstly, it won't increase spectator interest in any way. Secondly, it'll ruin spectating on gravel events because you won't be able to see the cars.

[bassist]

1 minute intervals?! Well dusty stages will be a problem.

HaveI read this correctly? 1 minute is fine if it`s chucking it down with rain, but in Dry Dusty conditions??? Where is the safety element for competitors/officials/spectators here???? Common sense lost again to pander to TV requirements???