Council approves Pirelli's 25-day tyre testing plan
The World Motor Sport Council today approved changes to the Formula One Sporting Regulations to allow Pirelli, the Sport's official tyre supplier until the end of 2019, to undertake more tyre tests in preparation of the 2017 season.
A statement released by the FIA today reads: "The World Motor Sport Council today approved changes to Articles 10.2 and 10.6 of the Formula One Sporting Regulations in order to provide the appointed tyre supplier additional opportunities to undertake testing in preparation for the 2017 season.
"The further testing was deemed to be essential for the purpose of developing the new tyre sizes permitted by the 2017 F1 Technical Regulations.
"The changes will allow 25 car days of testing with current cars, fitted with 2017 tyre sizes, in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
"In addition, there will be an opportunity to test prototype 2017 tyres (in 2016 sizes) on 2013 or 2014 cars – these tests on older cars only apply in 2016."
Pirelli's head of motorsport, Paul Hembery threatened earlier this week that the tyre manufacturer would have no choice but to leave the sport, if a testing agreement could not be reached soon. The threat of that become a reality, and leaving the FIA without a supplier, has seemingly speed up matters considerably after months of indecisive discussions.
