The FIA held its second World Motor Sport Council of the year today in Geneva following the extraordinary meeting which took place on 18 January.

During the meeting, the following decisions were taken:

FIA Formula One World Championship

The World Motor Sport Council approved a number of minor changes to the 2017 Technical Regulations covering:

-        The rewording of some existing articles for better clarity.

-        A reordering of Article 3.

For the 2017 Sporting Regulations, a number of amendments were approved concerning:

-        Further precision around the procedure for the implementation of a standing start after an initial Safety Car start due to heavy rain.

-        An update to the definition of the race distance for races involving safety car starts.

-        The requirement for drivers to remain above the minimum time set by the FIA when entering the pit lane behind a Safety Car.

-        Work permitted on cars during a race suspension.

-        The regulations governing testing.

-        Changes to the wording of the Sporting Regulations to bring it in line with the International Sporting Code.

-        Clarifications around team operational personnel limitations.

Some rewording for clarity was approved for the 2018 Technical Regulations, while an amendment to Appendix 8 (regarding Restricted CFD simulations) of the 2018 Sporting Regulations.

These changes will be updated in the relevant regulation documents on the FIA.com.

The World Motor Sport Council approved the extension of the current contract with McLaren Applied Technologies to supply the Standard ECU (SECU) in line with the continuation of the current Power Units until 2021. This will minimise the cost and disruption to teams and engine manufacturers.

FIA Formula 2 Championship

The World Motor Sport Council approved the creation of the FIA Formula 2 Championship for 2017 onwards. The FIA reached an agreement with the Formula One Group regarding the transition of the GP2 Series to FIA Formula 2, and the series will support the FIA Formula One World Championship in all but one of the dates, which were confirmed by the World Council as follows: 

*Not in support of a Formula One event

FIA Formula 3 European Championship

Changes were approved for the testing involving rookie drivers with the aim of attracting them to the championship earlier.

In accordance with the common goal to reduce costs, the World Council approved a proposal to impose staff limitations to six people per car for the first car, and four people for each additional car.

FIA Formula E Championship

Further to the request of Belgian ASN and the Promoter, the World Motor Sport Council agreed that Round 8 of the Formula E Championship will take place in Berlin on 11 June instead of Brussels on 1 July, making the Berlin ePrix a double-header event and retaining the 12 rounds across the season. 

FIA World Endurance Championship

Following the World Motor Sport Council meeting of 30 November 2016, the wording of the Sporting Regulations was updated in reference to the following topics, which had been approved previously:

-        Creation of an LMGTE World Championship.

-        New tyre limitations per category as from 2017: reduction of the numbers of tyres authorized per event for the LMP1 and LMGTE categories.

-        Limitation of the continuous driving time to 80 minutes in races where the ambient temperature reaches 32°C, as a matter of safety.

-        Technical waivers provided to the new entrants in the Manufacturer’s World Endurance Championship (LMP1 Hybrid) in order to help any potential Manufacturers contemplating entry in the championship.

The complete Sporting Regulations with the updated wording will be available in the Regulations section at FIA.com.

FIA World Touring Car Championship

The proposed WTCC 2 category announced at the conclusion of the World Motor Sport Council of 30 November 2016 has been deleted for the 2017 season. This has been done to allow the Touring Car Commission and the Promoter to focus entirely on the main category (TC1) in 2017.

Following a request received from the promoter, the Chinese round of the Championship has been moved to the Ningbo Circuit, south of Shanghai (subject to the homologation of the circuit).

The World Motor Sport Council approved a change of date for the Argentina round of the championship which will move from 6 August to 16 July.

FIA Touring Car Commission

The FIA intends to establish a Touring Car framework based on regional championships. The FIA will study invitations to tender for the promotion of these championships for each region – as approved by the World Motor Sport Council.

This framework will play a key role in establishing a Touring Car pyramid – as found in other disciplines with world, regional and national levels.

FIA GT Commission

The FIA GT Commission will work towards doubling the number of FIA GT events, one dedicated to manufactures – the FIA GT World Cup – and the second dedicated to a more traditional PRO/AM format. This additional event would take place in a different venue and at a different date to the FIA GT World Cup. The Commission aims to launch an invitation to tender for a promoter to propose the full concept of an FIA GT3 PRO/AM customer event.

CIK-FIA Karting

The calendar for the 2017 CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship was confirmed:

FIA World Rallycross Championship

A number of small amendments to the Technical Regulations were approved for the 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship. These will be reflected in the regulations published at FIA.com.

FIA Electric and New Energy Championships

Regarding events in the 2017 FIA Electric and New Energy Championship, the following changes were approved:

-        Rally Italy-Slovenia (23-26 March) has been cancelled.

-        EcoNova Rally Germany will be replaced by a new EcoNova Cup, which will now be held in Austria on the same date (31 August – 3 September, 2017).

FIA Safety Commission

The table for drivers earning points towards a Super Licence has been extended to incorporate CIK-FIA senior and junior Karting categories (as the starting point for young drivers; these points are applicable for a maximum of five years), and the FFSA’s Formula Academy.

Appendix L of the International Sporting Code will be updated accordingly at FIA.com.

Appointment of the FIA Secretary-General for Sport

This was the final FIA World Motor Sport Council prepared by Jean-Louis Valentin, who is leaving his position as Secretary-General for Sport. Mr Valentin was elected to the presidency of the urban community of Cotentin in January of this year, and consequently will be unable to continue in his role within the Federation. FIA President Jean Todt, along with the assembled members of the World Motor Sport Council, thanked him for his valuable contribution to motor sport since his appointment in 2014, and wished him well as for the future as he goes on to serve his community in government.

The World Council welcomed Peter Bayer, who was nominated for the position by FIA President Jean Todt. With the approval of the World Council, Mr Bayer will assume the role from 10 March.

The next meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council will be held in Geneva on 19 June, 2017.