Proposed 2008 Rule Changes

[mazdamazda]

FIA announces changes to 2008 rules
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Summary of the main changes proposed for 2008

Engines

# All components of the engine will be controlled by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) which has been manufactured by an FIA designated supplier to an agreed specification

# The ECU may only be used with FIA approved software and may only be connected to the control system wiring loom, sensors and actuators as specified by the FIA

# All control sensors, actuators and FIA monitoring sensors will be specified and homologated by the FIA


# The control system wiring loom connectivity will be specified by the FIA

# A 3 litre V10 engine will remain an option for teams unable to obtain a 2.4 litre V8, but subject to similar strict performance limitations as in 2006 and 2007

Reasons

# To eliminate the use of driver aids such as traction control

# As teams will not be able to develop their own ECUs, expenditure on electronics will be considerably reduced

# To allow the FIA to check testing mileage and other elements

# To keep engine costs low for the smaller independent teams

Gearboxes

# All cars will be fitted with gear ratios, final drive ratios and differentials which have been manufactured by an FIA designated supplier to an agreed specification

# Gear changing will only be permitted by the use of a manually operated mechanical linkage to the gearbox

# Clutches will only be operated via a foot pedal connected mechanically to a release mechanism

Reasons

# To restore control over the clutch and gear changing to the driver

# The use of standard gearbox internals will result in a very significant reduction in expenditure

Bodywork

# Downforce will be reduced to approximately 10% of current levels

# Drag will be maintained at current levels

# Overall car width will be increased

# By stipulating maximum and minimum dimensions cars will be “cleaned up” with devices such as barge boards, flip ups, winglets and other small add on parts removed

# Total advertising area on the car to remain unchanged

Reasons

# To reduce the reliance upon downforce as a means of improving performance

# By increasing mechanical grip the likelihood of one car being able to follow another closely in corners, and hence be in an attacking position at the end of the following straight, will be increased

# Eliminating winglets, bargeboards, etc, will reduce costs as well as the danger of debris on the circuits

# Drag should remain unchanged in order to ensure straight line speeds do not increase significantly

Wheels and Tyres

Tyres will be supplied by one manufacturer appointed by the FIA after an invitation to tender. Such an appointment will be conditional upon:

# A suitable supplier being available


# A suitable system to ensure tyre testing is carried out in an equitable manner

# No team being disadvantaged by the appointment of a single supplier (detailed regulations will be written to ensure this would not be the case)

# There being no legal impediments during the process of appointing a supplier

# Slick tyres will be introduced for use in dry weather

# Lower profile tyres will be introduced

# Significantly larger wheels with minimum and maximum sizes stipulated for front and rear will be permitted

# Tyre blankets and other heating devices will be prohibited

# All tyre regulations will reside in the Technical Regulations

Reasons

# A single supplier would allow a bigger safety margin

# The absence of competitive tyre testing would reduce costs

# As relatively small differences in tyre compound and construction can have a significant effect on lap times, a single tyre supplier would simply ensure that no team would be adversely affected by being contracted to the “wrong” supplier

# Slick tyres would be re-introduced as a part of the low-downforce and high-mechanical-grip package

# Lower profile tyres would be introduced in order to give the wheels and tyres a more modern look and also permit more freedom on brakes and suspension

# A ban on tyre heating devices would eliminate this significant but unnecessary expenditure

Chassis

# The minimum height of the centre of gravity of the chassis will be specified

# The minimum weight for a chassis will be specified

# Energy of all impact tests will be increased

# Loads for all static tests will be increased

# Side intrusion test requirements will be increased

# Ballast will be reduced to minimal levels

Reasons

# To ensure that weight is distributed throughout the chassis

# The centre of gravity requirement should result in less pure ballast being used, the minimum weight will have to be achieved by the construction of a stronger chassis

# By raising the impact test speeds, the static load criteria on structures such as roll hoops and increasing the penetration resistance, drivers will be even better protected than they are at present

Brakes

# All cars will be fitted with brake discs, pads and callipers which have been manufactured by an FIA designated supplier to an agreed specification

Reason

# To reduce the cost of continual development of new materials and designs, the FIA specified products will be designed to work on all types of track and last an entire Grand Prix weekend

Data Acquisition and Telemetry

# With specific exceptions, any data acquisition system, telemetry system or associated sensors additional to those associated with the ECU will be physically separate and completely isolated from the control electronics

# Pit to car telemetry will be prohibited

Reasons

# To ensure that any data acquisition system used by a team cannot interfere with the FIA specified ECU and sensors

# To ensure teams are unable to send messages to a car and potentially affect its performance

Materials

# Limitations, similar to those within the 2006 engine regulations, will be imposed on all parts of the car

Reason

# Costs will be reduced as research into exotic materials will be unnecessary

Starter

# All cars will be equipped with a driver operated starter which is capable of starting the car without outside assistance a minimum number of times

Reasons

# To simplify the operation of starting a car, at present it is massively complex

# To give the driver a chance of starting a car unaided in the event of it stopping on the track

# To reduce the number of personnel needed at an Event and hence reduce costs

Notice of Change

# Notice periods for changing the rules will be related to the effect (if any) of a change on the design of a car rather than an artificial distinction between “sporting” and “technical” regulations. There will no longer be a distinction between changes to the engine, transmission or chassis.

Reason

# To ensure that changes may be made to the regulations in a timely and more realistic way

Spare Cars **

# Spare cars will be prohibited, i.e. no team may have more than two built-up cars available at an Event at any one time. Spare chassis will be permitted but precisely what constitutes a car in this context will be clearly defined

Reason

# By taking one car less to races teams will be able to save considerable sums of money as, apart from the cost of the car itself, fewer personnel will be needed

TESTING **

# Testing will be limited to 30000km per team between 1st January and 31st December, subject to a single tyre supplier being appointed

Reason

# To reduce the enormous amounts of money currently being spent on testing

Car Acqusition **

# Teams will be free to buy a complete car or any part of a car from another constructor

# How constructor’s points are to be allocated will be clearly defined after further discussion

Reason

# To enable a team to buy a complete car, or any part of a car, from another constructor. As a result teams will be able to save considerable sums of money on the design and development of their cars

** For the purposes of the submission to the World Council these Sporting Regulations will be included as an addendum to the draft Technical Regulations

[empy]

eto na naman sila. why don't they just cut to the chase and make everyone race in the same car?

[kimpOy]

Wheels and Tyres

Tyres will be supplied by one manufacturer appointed by the FIA after an invitation to tender.

so i guess michelin is out of the running...he..he

[JohnM]

why don't they just cut to the chase and make everyone race in the same car?

http://www.a1gp.com/

[DoctorDoom]

It makes sense to me many of these cost-cutting changes. F1 sport has become SOOOO expensive these days, money itself does not drive innovation in this sport anymore. For example, the "one-tire" rule was designed to challenge tire makers to come up with really durable tires. It is up to the teams to adjust their race strategy until they can get better tires. You just can't keep changing tires when you want to. You must also learn how to survive with what you have. "Surviving" is part of F1 competition.

Single supplier for its tires is a welcome move. However, variety in spare parts from various suppliers also makes the race interesting because F1 is also about "Constructors" competition.

[nugundam93]

wow...pretty drastic rule changes...

[number001]

The FIA announced today the regulation changes that it wants to introduce in time for the 2008 Formula One championship.

To reduce costs in Formula One, the FIA is planning to introduce a new set of technical regulations to achieve this goal.

In a statement, the FIA revealed the following information:

It was agreed that the main objectives of the 2008 Formula One Technical Regulations should be to reduce drastically the cost of competing and to change the aerodynamic characteristics of the cars so as to make it easier to overtake without increasing cornering speeds.

Detailed regulations will be finalised in the week commencing 19 December and will include:

*A standard Electronic Control Unit
*Long life engines
*Long life gearboxes
*A single tyre supplier
*Restrictions on the ability of the teams to change their aerodynamics during the season
*Rev-limited engines and other measures

With such a radical approach, the FIA will surely have a lot of feedback from the teams and will probably fuel the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association (GPMA) members’ motivation to create a separate championship series.

Internet Source

[number001]

A single tyre supplier

Goodbye, Michelin! (Note: Michelin threatened to pull-out of the sport totally if this tyre ruling was ever passed. While Bridgestone has communicated their support for the sport regardless of the outcome of the new tyre ruling )

[squala]

There shouldn't be a single tyre rule. This will not force the supplier/s to bring the best rubber they can. The current Michelin/Bridgestone rivalry is healthy; they try to keep up with each other in performance and reliability.

If ever, I think they will probably concentrate with the top teams only, contradictory to the FIA's pursuit of giving lower budget teams a better chance to fight competitively. It will be also unfair for other tyre manufacturers should they want to join F1.

[ineedmorehp]

I'm not infavor of rev-limited engine and the so-called 200MPH+ pitstop/telemetry brought by HP/Compaq. I'm not sure though if other IT-provider have this, like Ferrari's Acer.

[racerzone91crx]

hey guys,sorri for bothering.i need help regarding on my car.i got a 1989 honda civic to be ship from cali4nia to manila.i need more information on custom how they process my car.i need to know if how much cost me?

[racerzone91crx]

tnx .godblez!

[nugundam93]

gahh. why not put a lot of additional weights on the car while they're at it?

[Monseratto]

Michelin will leave F1 after 2006 season

The French tyre manufacturer confirms its decision

Michelin has on several occasions expressed the conditions of its involvement in Formula One: Michelin considers Formula One to be a highly technical motorsport in which the tyre is a very influential component in the scope of the performance of the vehicle.

The teams' freedom to choose their own tyres is essential. Therefore, competition between at least two tyre manufacturers is critical; this provides the basis for real competition between tyre suppliers which, in turn, stimulates progress for the public’s greater interest.

Today, it would appear as though Formula One rules will be modified to impose a single tyre supplier.

After consulting with its loyal partners (McLaren Mercedes, BMW Sauber F1, Renault F1, Honda Racing F1) as well as with Sir Frank Williams, Michelin is now convinced that the evolution towards a single tyre supplier is inevitable. Michelin expresses its regret to see F1 lose a part of its high technology.

In addition to this new direction in F1, there are constant changes to racing regulations without warning. Such practices also make planning for the future completely impossible.

In this context, continuing to make long-term investments in Formula One no longer presents the same interest.

Michelin has therefore decided not to extend its Formula One involvement beyond the 2006 season.

"This decision is the result of profound differences between Michelin’s long-standing sporting philosophy and the way Formula One is managed by the regulating authorities, which no longer provide a clear and sustainable environment to justify long-term investments,” commented Mr. Edouard Michelin.

"For Michelin, leaving Formula One in no way represents abandoning motorsports, to which the Michelin brand has been committed for 117 years. If F1’s ways of functioning were to be significantly modified, Michelin would not hesitate in proposing its services to the different teams once again."

Michelin’s withdrawal at the end of 2006 will almost certainly bring into play a single tyre supplier in 2007. In this new situation, it should be possible to verify if the FIA’s vaunted advantages of control tyres are proven and, in particular, if equality amongst teams really is guaranteed.

This decision is being made public in December 2005 to respect the FIA’s required notice period and to provide a maximum amount of preparation time to Michelin partners, with whom there was no firm commitment beyond 2006.

In conclusion, Mr. Edouard Michelin stated: "No matter what, Michelin will do everything possible to ensure that its partners receive the best service and the best tyres to help them win during the 2006 season, as has always been the case since our return to Formula One in 2001. Michelin would have liked to have extended its long-term Formula One involvement, because the demands of Formula One as well as the collaboration with partner teams have been such a source of progress and fruitful exchanges. Thank you to all of our partners for this.”

Press release
Michelin

McLaren land Vodafone as title sponsor

Vodafone and the McLaren Mercedes Formula One team today announce a long-term sponsorship agreement, commencing January 2007 which will last into the next decade. Vodafone will become Title Sponsor of the Team – ‘Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ and the ‘Official Mobile Partner’.

The sponsorship demonstrates Vodafone’s ongoing commitment to the Formula One World Championship, a sport which continues to deliver massive global television coverage and which has significant appeal for Vodafone’s consumer and business customers around the world.

Vodafone has sponsored the Ferrari team since 2002 and the contract expires at the end of next season.

Ron Dennis, Chairman and CEO of the McLaren Group
“This is only the third time for more than 30 years that the opportunity to become the team’s Title Sponsor has existed. The status of the brand and the level of activation in support of the sponsorship were key criteria for our choice of Title Sponsor and Vodafone over-delivers in all respects. In addition, as our agreement is long-term, this provides important stability within the Team, allowing us to focus fully on our objective of winning races and Championships together. We are delighted to welcome Vodafone to the team and look forward to many future successes."

Peter Bamford, Vodafone Chief Marketing Officer
"We are excited about this new phase of involvement in motor racing. As Title Sponsor of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team it raises our association with Formula One to the ultimate level. The new agreement delivers a fantastic marketing platform; the associative rights we acquire as a result of this new sponsorship provide us with additional opportunities to continue to raise brand awareness, build brand preference and drive revenue. It will also provide our customers with unique and exciting content through Vodafone live! with 3G.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"We welcome Vodafone as the new title sponsor to the team. The fact that a world renowned brand like Vodafone with such an impressive market performance has joined us is of significant importance not only for the team but also for all our world class sponsor partners. I am sure that each one will benefit from the respective activities of the other, which is a first class prospect for everybody involved."

E.A.
Source Vodafone / McLaren Mercedes