WORLD COUNCIL APPROVES NEW-LOOK F1

[4me2]

WORLD COUNCIL APPROVES NEW-LOOK F1
Last Updated: Friday, 09, December, 2005, 17:50 The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council has rubber-stamped the governing body’s plans to “drastically reduce the cost of competing” in Formula 1 and to “make it easier to overtake without increasing cornering speeds”.
At a meeting in Monaco today, the council agreed the basis of the 2008 technical regulations, which will be finalised later this month.
The new rules package will include the following:
* A standard electronic control unit (ECU)
* 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
Most of these changes have been on the table for some time, but confirmation of the fine details is eagerly awaited by teams and fans alike.
It is hoped that the standard ECU, a device that engine manufacturers have previously been wary of, will allow the eradication of driver aids such as traction control, by removing fears that electronic trickery cannot be effectively policed.
The restrictions on aero development will also be a substantial change to the F1 ethos.
At present, top teams introduce new parts at virtually every race, and many make substantial aero upgrades during the season.
Other proposals will come as less of a culture shock.
The staged introduction of long -life engine rules has already begun, with teams having to make each engine last two races from 2005.
The impending switch to a single tyre supplier has long been taken for granted, with Michelin likely to withdraw before 2008 due to its objection to this principle.

More radical changes - such as the CDG wing proposal - were not mentioned in today's announcement, but are likely to be discussed before the 2008 package is finalised.


http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=34688

[Shambles]

I never was a fan of "all cars equal" in F1, and these new regs just make matters worse in my opinion.

Look at the season just gone. Appalling tyre wear with the one-tyre-per-race rule, stringent clearances from wing to skirt making all cars virtually identical, fuel ratio monitoring from qualifying to racing. All bad imho.

Oh, and I'll bet they're partying at Bridgestone tonight ;/