FIA announces proposed changes for 2008

Below is the letter and list of proposed changes.

Letter of 22 April 2004:

Mr Flavio Briatore, Mr Eddie Jordan, Mr David Richards, Mr Peter Sauber, Mr Jean Todt, Sir Frank Williams.

Gentlemen

Thank you for accepting our invitation for 4 May.

Attached you will find a summary of our preliminary proposals, which have six main objectives:

* to improve the racing spectacle without introducing artificial rules;
* to put a greater emphasis on driver skills by finally eliminating electronic driver aids;
* to reduce the cost of operating a front-running Formula One team;
* to reduce very substantially the cost of operating a smaller competitive Formula One team;
* to encourage new teams to enter Formula One;
* to encourage a full grid of 24 cars.

Please feel free to put forward any additional ideas which you feel may help achieve the above objectives and also to suggest additional means of ensuring the ongoing success of Formula One.

As you know, the meeting starts at 11 am on 4 May. We have, however, made provision to continue until midday on 5 May should this prove necessary.

We intend to present final proposals to the World Motor Sport Council on 30 June, to take effect on 1 January 2008

Yours sincerely
Max Mosley
cc: Mr B Ecclestone

List of proposed changes:

Engine:

* 2.4 litre V8;
* maximum of four valves per cylinder;
* two-race engine (fool-proof method for ensuring this rule is observed, plus
carefully calculated penalty system for unscheduled changes);
* list of components which must be made from a specific material and/or using a specified manufacturing process;
* ban on variable geometry inlet and exhaust systems;
* standard ECU (under FIA control)
* ban on ultra high pressure (direct injection) fuel systems enforced by means of FIA ECU;
* maximum modulus of elasticity (stiffness) of materials reduced from 40 Gpa to 32 Gpa (throughout car).

Transmission, braking and steering:

* manual gearbox with electronic over-rev safeguard;
* manually operated clutch;
* ban on electronically controlled differentials;
* ban on power steering systems;
* standard brake discs, pads and calipers.

Chassis:

* weight limit reduced by at least 50 kilos (to eliminate ballast and thus reduce kinetic energy in an accident);
* a combined tyre and aerodynamic package to be published no later than 31 December 2004 to achieve specific targets for cornering speeds, straight-line speeds, grip and braking performance, taking weight reduction into acount;
* tyre (wheel) width reduced at front, increased at rear to allow weight distribution consistent with no ballast and to give greater drag (total of front +rear widths to stay same).

Sporting:

* no spare car allowed during entire Event;
* cars to be held under parc fermé conditions during entire Event;
* one tyre supplier only, all sporting aspects of supply contract under control of FIA;
* drastic restriction on private testing, limited by mileage rather than number of days, enforced by means of FIA ECU;
* two (identical) sets of tyres for qualifying and race;
* Friday practice: package to ensure cars run, possibly to include a qualifying session;
* new qualifying system to be discussed with commercial rights holder (broadcasters), teams and race promoters;
* if qualifying continues to be with race fuel, consider whether amount of fuel in refuelling rig before race should be fixed annually in sporting regulations with amount of fuel in car for qualifying and race free (to encourage fuel efficiency);
* no tyre change during race (except genuine puncture), refuelling to stay;
* consider if constructors’ points should be scored by a maximum of four specified cars (two teams) per constructor (to encourage major teams to make cars and information available to teams coming into Formula One, see below);

General:

* no restriction on the sale, loan or exchange of chassis and components between
teams or to new entrants in the Championship;