Lot of interesting news from FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting
The FIA World Motor Sport Council held its second meeting of 2019 yesterday in Paris, hosted by FIA President Jean Todt and FIA Deputy President for Sport, Graham Stoker. After the meeting, FIA announced many interesting decisions that would affect the future of different racing disciplines.
We already wrote about new technical regulations that will introduce Hypercars to the FIA World Endurance Championship from season 2020/2021. The 2019-2020 FIA WEC season calendar has been updated, featuring eight rounds including Silverstone 4 Hours, Fuji 6 Hours, Shanghai 4 Hours, Bahrain 8 Hours, Sao Paulo 6 Hours, 1000 Miles of Sebring, Spa 6 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours.
FIA World Rally Championship logo
Hybrid World Rally Cars announced for 2020
The WMSC approved the introduction of a new generation of hybrid World Rally Cars cars in 2022, with a five-year homologation cycle. Manufacturers will be allowed to use a production bodyshell or a prototype tubular structure to current WRC size guidelines, while the FIA is set to define carry-over elements from production vehicles for key visual elements. There will also be an option for ‘scaling’ of the body within prescribed limits, to allow larger cars to comply with dimension targets.
The cars will feature a supplementary hybrid system, to be comprised of common components and software for the first three years, with the potential for more technical freedom in 2024. The aim is to enable the cars to run on pure electric power in cities and provide an electric power boost on special stages.
The Junior WRC programme will continue in its current format for the next two seasons. In addition to the existing prize structure of a Ford Fiesta R5 plus a support package to compete in WRC2, the 2020 winner would benefit from a potential path to WRC. Contingent upon then winning the WRC 2 Championship, the Junior WRC title-winner would have the opportunity to compete in two WRC outings in an M-Sport run car. To support this programme, M-Sport, in conjunction with Pirelli, has developed a national ‘feeder’ programme across Finland, the United Kingdom, Estonia and Italy that will allow them to step up into the world stage the following season.
The Council approved the long-term extension of the current Promoter, subject to a long-form agreement being signed. Approval of the 2020 WRC calendar was deferred to the end of June 2019.
FIA World Rallycross Championship is going towards electrification
Gradual introduction of electric cars in the World RX
The Council approved the revised roadmap for the Electrification of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2021. This will be focused on the current private teams and the use of current Supercars. A gradual introduction will see a mix of Electric vehicles and current Internal combustion engines for a minimum of one year (2021). An identical specification powertrain and battery kit are to be introduced for a four-year cycle, comprising two motors developing between 400 and 500 kW.
The FIA Junior eRX Championship will be created for 2021, based on an arrive and drive format, and with 4WD cars developing approximately 250 kW. Three tenders will be launched for the supply of a retrofit electric kit for current Supercars, a Junior eRX Championship car and operator, and a charging infrastructure for both the electric World Championship and the Junior eRX Championship. Each tender covers a four year period and potential suppliers can respond with bids for more than one tender. The European Rallycross Championship will continue with the existing Supercar and S1600 categories.
Formula E season 6 calendar has been revealed
South Korean capital Seoul in the FIA Formula E Championship calendar
The Council approved the calendar for Season 6 (2019/2020) of the FIA Formula E Championship. Compared to 13-race Season 5, the season will have one race more, featuring fourteen races for the first time in the short history of the competition.
Ad Diriyah in Saudi Arabia will host the season-opening round as a double-header event, with two races on November 22 and November 23, 2019. The location of the third round on December 14 is yet to be confirmed. Then, in January 2020, Santiago de Chile will host the fourth round, followed by Mexico City in February, Hong Kong and unnamed Chinese town in March, Rome and Paris in April.
Then, on May 3, 2020, the South Korean capital Seoul will host the electric Grand Prix event for the first time. The races in Berlin and New York will follow the season-closing round would be a double-header event in London on July 25-26, 2020.
The WMSC also approved some changes in the Formula E Sporting Regulations. The most interesting is an additional championship point for the fastest driver in the qualifying group stages.
The inaugural FIA Motorsport Games will be held in Rome
The Council approved the ‘FIA Motorsport Games’, a new international, multidisciplinary sporting event that will see drivers competing not for themselves but for their country. Taking place annually, the Games will initially feature six categories: GT, Touring Car, Formula 4, Drifting, Karting Slalom and Digital Motorsport. Each competition will award Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, contributing to an overall medal table. The inaugural edition of the Games will be held from 31 October to 3 November 2019 in Rome.
The next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council will be held on October 4, 2019, at the Permanent Exhibition of the Michael Schumacher Private Collection at Motorworld in Cologne, Germany.
Photos: FIA, fiaworldrallycross.com, Getty Images,
