2008 Sporting regulations

Yesterday, the World Motor Sport Council approved the rules suggested by Max Mosley, president of the FIA, during a meeting in Paris. The 2008 Formula One sporting Regulations have been revealed by the FIA today. Here follows a list of the most important changes.

LICENCES
10) All drivers, competitors and officials participating in the Championship must hold a FIA Super Licence. Applications for Super Licences must be made annually to the FIA through the applicant's ASN.

CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS
14) The maximum number of Events in the Championship is 20, the minimum is 8.

COMPETITORS APPLICATIONS
41) Applications to compete in the Championship may be submitted to the FIA during the period 24-31 March 2006 inclusive on an entry form as set out in Appendix 2 hereto accompanied by an undertaking to pay the entry fee of €300,000 to the FIA no later than 1 November 2007. Applications at other times will only be considered if a place is available. Entry forms will be made available by the FIA who will notify the applicant of the result of the application within thirty days of its receipt. Successful applicants are automatically entered in all Events of the Championship and will be the only competitors at Events.

43) A competitor may change the make and/or type of engine at any time during the Championship. All points scored with an engine of different make to that which was first entered in the Championship may count (and may be aggregated) for the assessment of a commercial benefit, however such points will not count towards (nor be aggregated for) the FIA Formula One Constructors Championship. A major car manufacturer may not directly or indirectly supply engines for more than two teams of two cars each without the consent of the FIA. For the purposes of this Article 43, a major car manufacturer is a company whose shares are quoted on a recognised stock exchange or the subsidiary of such a company.

46) No more than 24 cars will be admitted to the Championship, two being entered by each competitor.

TESTING
63) a) Testing shall be considered any track running time undertaken by a competitor entered in the Championship. Any other track running time undertaken by, or on behalf of a competitor entered in the Championship (or which is suspected of being connected in any way whatsoever with a competitor entered in the Championship) is not permitted. No competitor may carry out more than 30000km of testing during a calendar year.

SUPPLY OF TYRES IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND TYRE LIMITATION DURING THE EVENT
73) Supply of tyres : A tyre manufacturer will be chosen by the FIA for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons following an invitation for tenders to supply tyres to all the cars entered in Championship Events for the duration of these seasons.

SPARE CARS AND ENGINES
83) Except when a car is being run under Article 58(b), each competitor may have no more than two cars available for use at any one time during an Event. Any partially assembled survival cell will be deemed to be a car in this context if it fitted with an engine, any front suspension, bodywork, radiators, oil tanks or heat exchangers.

86) Each driver may use no more than one engine for two consecutive Events in which his team competes. Should a driver use a replacement engine he will be required to comply with a minimum weight limit 15kg higher than stated in Article 4.1 of the 2008 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations at that Event each time an engine other than the original one is used. Unless the driver fails to finish the race (see below) the engine fitted to the car at the end of the Event must remain in it until the end of the next. Any driver who failed to finish the race at the first of the two Events for reasons beyond the control of the team or driver, may start the second with a different engine without a penalty being incurred. Only engines which have been homologated by the FIA in accordance with Appendix 6 may be used at an Event during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons.

87) Each driver may use no more than one gearbox for four consecutive Events in which his team competes. Should a driver use a replacement gearbox he will be required to comply with a minimum weight limit 15kg higher than stated in Article 4.1 of the 2008 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations at that Event each time a gearbox other than the original one is used. Unless the driver fails to finish the race (see below) the gearbox fitted to the car at the end of the Event must remain in it for three further Events. Any driver who failed to finish the race at the first, second or third of the four Events for reasons beyond the control of the team or driver, may start the following Event with a different gearbox without a penalty being incurred.

SAFETY CAR
154) When the order is given to deploy the safety car :
- all observer's posts will display waved yellow flags and a board "SC" which shall be maintained until the intervention is over ;
- the pit entry will be closed until all cars on the track have formed up in a line behind the safety car. A ten second time penalty (see Article 54) will be imposed on any driver who enters the pit lane whilst it is closed. Any car which was in the pit entry or pit lane when the safety car was deployed will not incur a penalty.

If it is deemed necessary for the safety car to use the pit lane (see i) below) cars following it will not incur a penalty.

From this time any car being driven unnecessarily slowly, and which is deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers, will be reported to the stewards. This will apply whether any such car is being driven on the track, the pit entry or the pit lane.