Stability for WRC and 2026 laws in Method 1 prime of the FIA World Motor Sport Council agenda in Samarkand

The FIA World Motor Sport Council convened for its second assembly of 2024. The assembly was chaired by President Mohammed Ben Sulayem with FIA Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid and WMSC members becoming a member of in individual on the 2024 FIA Convention in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and through video convention. 

In his opening tackle, the FIA President thanked Natsional’naya Federatsiya Avtosporta I Kartinga Respubliki Uzbekistan (NAFKU) for internet hosting the World Council and FIA Convention in Uzbekistan, and reported on vital progress for the reason that earlier WMSC gathering which befell in February on the Federation’s workplaces in Geneva. 

Welcoming and thanking the Members for his or her efforts, the President addressed the council, saying: 

“Midway by means of 2024, it’s time to mirror on the work we now have completed, and the work nonetheless to come back. In sporting, we now have seen development throughout every of our Championships as calendars are expanded, and we proceed to extend grassroots alternatives, encouraging accessible and reasonably priced participation. 

“At the moment, I introduced a brand new Karting technique which will likely be launched later this yr. Karting is the spine of all motor sport, the beginning for a lot of of our world champions, and I’m dedicated to its continued development.” 

President Ben Sulayem additionally shared particulars of the FIA’s year-end monetary report, noting: 

“I’m happy to share that the report was concluded by April for less than the second time in our historical past. By way of the implementation of a robust business technique and a streamlined accounting course of, we proceed to see a discount in our deficit. 

We’re efficiently assembly our goal of making a really world, financially secure, member-led federation, and I look ahead to this persevering with throughout the rest of the yr.” 

Technical stability agreed for FIA World Rally Championship

Technical stability has been agreed between all stakeholders for the 2025 and 2026 FIA World Rally Championship seasons. The World Council has confirmed that, following intensive suggestions and discussions, the WRC Technical Laws for Rally1/2 vehicles will stay unchanged for the approaching two years.  

All stakeholders are working positively collectively on the course of the laws for 2027 and past, and there’s a good consensus between the World Council members and the producers on the important thing targets which can be aimed primarily at growing participation on the highest stage as beforehand set out by the FIA. It’s a robust expectation of the World Council that the present producers will decide to the long-term way forward for the game effectively prematurely. These laws will likely be offered for approval on the December assembly of the World Council, permitting greater than two yr’s lead time for producers to adapt. 

Following a transparent pledge to speculate from the WRC Promoter, the FIA will strengthen its group throughout the Business and Communications Departments to increase their help for the Promoter and the important thing stakeholders across the Promotional Working Group. 

There will likely be a robust deal with managing the sporting laws following the creation of the WRC Sporting Working Group, with a key emphasis on growing the alternatives for media activation and lowering the prices for its opponents. The ultimate variations of those Sporting Laws are to be proposed within the October session of the WMSC. 

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem commented on these conclusions, saying: “The WRC is vastly essential to the FIA, it’s the pinnacle of the rally self-discipline and I’ve had lots of conversations with the producers over the previous weeks about its future course. It’s clear now that all of us must have technical stability for the subsequent two years, however on the identical time it is necessary for the FIA that, in offering this stability, we obtain the identical constructive dedication from the producers.” 

Talking in response to this affirmation by the World Council, different WRC stakeholders have additionally added their ideas.

WRC Promoter Managing Director Jona Siebel stated: “Because the WRC Promoter this can be a vastly essential second for us, as we are able to transfer ahead with unity and consistency over the subsequent two years from a technical perspective whereas we’re investing closely in new and thrilling methods to develop the fanbase of the game and ship for our followers.” 

Jari-Matti Latvala, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Staff Principal stated: “We have now a really stable dedication to the World Rally Championship, and we’re actually supportive of a continued collaborative method to make sure the strongest competitors for all of us.”

Hyundai Motorsport President and Staff Principal Cyril Abiteboul stated: “We have now labored very intently along with the FIA over the previous months and whereas all of us consider that stability of the technical laws for 2025 and 2026 is the best factor, the very substantial steps made on the governance will present for a extra unified and constructive method in direction of the quick time period enhancements and long run breakthroughs that all of us agree the game wants.” 

Malcolm Wilson, M-Sport Ford World Rally Staff added: “This can be a actually constructive step for us within the coming years. We have now seen some good proposals on the promotion facet, on the advertising and marketing facet and the plans for occasion operations and now the work to make these issues occur wants to start out, and with a constant proposition on the technical facet, I feel the scope is there to attain our bold targets for the WRC.” 

Anna Nordkvist, Basic Supervisor of Rally Sweden, stated: “From the facet of the organisers, there are lots of constructive initiatives beginning now which can be going to deliver an enormous profit to the game and the followers. The entire rallies are totally different, however with extra flexibility and extra deal with the fan expertise, everybody will profit. The work being completed on the Sporting Laws is basically essential for us.” 

Thierry Neuville, Driver for Hyundai Motorsport, stated: “It’s good to listen to in the present day that we now have the soundness the groups have requested and from the conferences we had in Sardinia, it seems to be like there are some attention-grabbing proposals on the desk for the long run growth of the game. Along with this, the FIA’s elevated promotional efforts promise to raise our sport’s profile and ship better worth to all stakeholders. As a driver, I’m excited to see the modifications that won’t solely keep however improve our reference to followers worldwide, making certain that the game continues to develop and thrive.” 

Moreover, the World Council authorized that, for promotion functions, two designated group personnel for every registered producer will now be allowed to be current inside one kilometre of their competing vehicles on highway sections for filming and social media content material creation. Further positions within the automotive have been additionally accommodated for the becoming of onboard digital camera lens.  

To offer continuity and stability within the Junior WRC Championship, the extension of the unique automotive provide contract (M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 EVO) for the 2025 season was authorized.  

Strategic imaginative and prescient and future laws for Method 1

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the FIA and Business Rights Holder that’s important to the long-term prosperity of the game. Method 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali additionally highlighted that there’s a robust dedication to the whole single-seater pyramid that may contain better funding within the grassroots of the game shifting ahead.  

The World Council acquired an in depth presentation of the proposals for the 2026 Sporting and Technical Laws, the broad rules of which have been offered to the general public in the course of the latest FIA Method 1 Canadian Grand Prix. Following this presentation, the World Council will undertake an e-vote on the proposals within the coming weeks. 

An outline of the numerous regulatory modifications might be discovered right here. 

Motor sport impressed highway vehicles 

The FIA’s GT3 laws have confirmed to be vastly profitable in worldwide, regional and nationwide championships around the globe, and as such the FIA has been in dialogue with the broad vary of automotive producers to discover methods to switch this unimaginable success on the race monitor into distinctive and thrilling merchandise for the highway. 

To be able to homologate a Grand Touring Automotive (GT) for competitors within the GT3 class, producers should produce at the very least 300 road-going items of the mannequin, and following these discussions with the producers, step one in direction of creating an official, direct hyperlink between GT3 race vehicles and their highway automotive homologations has been taken. 

The World Council has authorized an replace for GT3 vehicles from 2025 that may, upon the producer’s request and with the FIA’s settlement, permit for as much as 300 highway vehicles to utilise FIA branding both on the bodywork or inside the cabin. Moreover, every automotive bearing an FIA brand will likely be assigned a particular serial quantity for identification functions. 

This may give producers a possibility, ought to they select, to create an much more unique restricted run of highway vehicles, linked to FIA competitors and uniquely recognised by the Federation.  

Regulatory updates

ABB FIA Method E World Championship

World Council members have additionally agreed to the creation of an ABB FIA Method E World Championship title for Producers along with the present titles for Drivers and Groups, to make sure attractiveness for producers homologating a automotive.  

The Technical Laws have additionally been up to date to permit for the usage of four-wheel drive on the GEN3 Evo automotive in particular situations equivalent to qualifying duels, race begin and Assault Mode from the 2024 – 2025 season onwards.

The 2024/25 calendar was authorized as follows:

FIA World Rally-Raid Championship  

Following the approval of the Cross-Nation Rally Sustainability Roadmap by the World Motor Sport Council in December 2023, the FIA World Rally-Raid Laws have been up to date to incorporate the requirement for producers and occasion organisers to stick the FIA Environmental Programme, which units a obligatory two-star stage of Accreditation when coming into the championship and three-star from 2027. 

The factors defining the beginning order choice after the prologue have been revised to permit the highest ten of the main group, which can embody all Platinum and Gold drivers with Final vehicles, from the Prologue classification to decide on their begin place for Stage 1, with the quickest driver being the final to decide on his place inside the main group. The purpose of this proposal is to stop unsporting techniques and enhance the curiosity within the begin order choice course of. 

A Energy Selective Part will likely be carried out into occasion itineraries, optionally in 2025 and with obligatory software from 2026, with the intention to duplicate the success of the WRC and ERC Energy Stage in rally and supply to the Promoter and organisers a possibility for stay broadcast and elevated publicity. 

To enhance opponents’ security, significantly in dune levels, W2RC vehicles within the Final, Challenger, SSV and Inventory teams should be fitted with a purple/orange reflective flag displayed at the very least 2 meters above the roof, the place indicated within the supplementary laws of W2RC and Baja occasions. Tough overtaking zones, the place crews are usually not allowed to request the previous car to offer approach, can even be specified within the highway books to keep away from harmful manoeuvres or the unfair software of penalties.  

On the facet of promotion, W2RC drivers will be capable to select a everlasting race quantity, with the numbers 200, 300 and 400 reserved for the reigning World, Challenger and SSV Champions respectively. 

FIA Motorsport Video games 2024 – Valencia 

World Council members confirmed the selection of ETS Racing Fuels as single gas provider for Karting Dash Senior, Junior and Mini Classes, in addition to for GT, GT Dash and Touring Automotive. Karting Classes will use 100% sustainable gas while GT, GT Dash and Touring Automotive opponents will likely be equipped with 50% sustainable gas. 

FIA CIK – Worldwide Karting Fee 

Grassroots alternatives proceed to extend, encouraging accessible and reasonably priced participation. Notably the African Karting Cup, launched in February, noticed over 60 opponents collaborating from 9 African nations. 

Because the FIA focuses on this development, it was confirmed to the council that President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has requested a brand new FIA Karting Plan to be created.  

Offering a roadmap to the game for all concerned, the brand new plan will take a look at karting’s pathway into main championships and will likely be delivered later this yr. 

Cross-Nation Rally 

As for the W2RC Laws, the Cross-Nation Rally Laws have been additionally revised to incorporate adherence to the the FIA Environmental programme. The 2-star stage of Environmental Accreditation will likely be obligatory for World Baja Cup organisers when coming into the championship, and three-star from 2027. Two-star will likely be obligatory from 2026 and three-star from 2028 for Regional Baja Cups. 

As a part of the proposals submitted by the Highway Sport Committee, a brand new, much less restrictive set of technical laws for the Inventory group – the previous T2 – will permit producers to homologate cross-country automobiles primarily based on fashionable 4WD commonplace automobiles, modified to extend their functionality and reliability, with a managed price range for the shoppers. 

With the course given by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, revised technical laws have been additionally authorized for the SSVs – previously T4 – with the purpose to come back again to much less reworked and extra reasonably priced automobiles in comparison with the present competitors vehicles and to supply a genuinely accessible entry class. 

Updates to the 2024 calendars of the FIA World and Center East Baja Cups have been authorized. Click on right here to view the modifications. 

Regional Rally 

Following the approval of the Rally Fee Sustainability Roadmap, authorized by the World Motor Sport Council in December 2023, the Regional Rally Sporting Laws have been up to date to incorporate the necessities of the FIA Environmental Programme associated to the usage of gas, tyres and environmental accreditation. 

Updates to the 2024 African Rally Championship calendar have been authorized. Click on right here to view the modifications. 

Governance 

The Council agreed to redefine the definition of ‘misconduct’ inside the ISC following recognition that there have been an growing variety of incidents through which excessive profile individuals have made statements in direction of officers that incite abuse. In response, the definition has been strengthened to embody these situations. 

It was additionally famous that, on this respect, abuse should additionally discuss with on-line abuse and hate speech which can now be referenced instantly.

New Sustainability, Range and Inclusion Roadmaps to combine social affect 

As a part of the SDI Roadmap, up to date plans have been offered to the council detailing achievements on this area. Notably, plans have been introduced to combine social affect within the revised SDI roadmap from 2025, emphasising a stronger dedication to variety and inclusion.  

Commitments of notice included: 

• Goal to attain equal alternatives for individuals with disabilities by 2040 

• Continued help for gender variety, aiming for a balanced total illustration by 2040 

• Doubling motor sport participation charges with a deal with selling equal probabilities for individuals from underrepresented teams. 

New Format for FIA Annual Report

The Communications Division offered the brand new, all digital Annual Report which will likely be launched for the primary time on Friday after approval by the Basic Assemblies. It’ll embody the important thing sporting highlights of the FIA’s motor sport disciplines together with key content material and insights from the earlier yr.  

Upcoming World Motor Sport Council Conferences: