FORMULA ONE 2012 SEASON:FORMULA ONE'S ban on testing during the season will be relaxed next year, with teams allowed one test, the governing Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) body announced yesterday.
The federation also announced the United States Grand Prix has been restored to the Formula One race calendar for 2012.
“One three-day test will be carried out during the season, formerly there were none,” the federation said in a statement detailing rule changes after a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council in New Delhi.
Teams were allowed to carry out one test in Abu Dhabi this year but only with young drivers or those with limited or no race experience. The change would appear to allow testing by race drivers, something teams such as Ferrari have increasingly lobbied for.
The test ban was introduced in 2009 as part of efforts to cut soaring costs in the sport.
Teams had previously spent fortunes testing, putting in many more laps at empty circuits than during race weekends, in pursuit of often infinitesimal gains.
The FIA also said there would now be a maximum race time of four hours to ensure a lengthy suspension, as happened in Canada this season, would not lead to an unregulated eight-hour marathon.
Drivers were warned they would no longer be allowed to take short cuts on the track, such as cutting a chicane to save fuel on reconnaissance or slowing down laps, without a “justifiable reason”.
They can also expect action from the stewards if they move back on to the racing line to defend their position having moved off it. The safety car regulations were revised, with lapped cars allowed to unlap themselves and join the back of the pack before the safety car returns to the pits.
The measure is designed to ensure a clean restart without slower cars impeding those racing at the front.
Meanwhile, Formula One will race in the United States next year after organisers of a new grand prix in Texas reached a deal with commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone yesterday.
“Mr Ecclestone received his cheque today,” Red McCombs, a founder of the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, said in a statement.
That race, and the Bahrain Grand Prix which had to be cancelled this year due to civil unrest, had looked doubtful ahead of the meeting of Formula One’s governing body in New Delhi but both were given the green light.
Construction work was halted at the 5.5 kms Circuit of the Americas, which will be the first purpose-built F1 facility in the US, last month amid wrangling over fees due to Ecclestone.
The 81-year-old Briton had handed organisers a contract ultimatum of this week.
Track officials in Austin said the 10-year deal was back on and building work would resume immediately for the November 18th race.
Bobby Epstein, another founding partner, said: “Our investors have believed all along that this project has tremendous benefit for our region, and provides a strong economic engine for the future.
“We’re glad that Tavo’s vision of bringing F1 to the people of Texas will become a reality,” he added, referring to the original promoter Tavo Hellmund who has now stepped aside.
Sources at the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting said changes to the calendar, published at the end of August with only countries rather than specific venues mentioned, were not discussed.
Ecclestone had doubted the US race would happen when asked at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix last month.
“The truth is they’re not complying with the terms and conditions of the contract,” he said. “And as we make the contract, we will award, the event or not award the event.”
The race will be the first in the US for Formula One since Indianapolis in 2007.
Another US Grand Prix is scheduled for New Jersey, on a street circuit against a backdrop of New York’s Manhattan skyline, in 2013.
“We have a substantial number of fans who have expressed interest in buying tickets and hospitality, so today is a win for all of them as much as it is for Circuit of The Americas,” said Steve Sexton, president of Circuit of The Americas, in the statement.
There has also been uncertainty about Bahrain’s race, cancelled this year due to civil unrest that continues to trouble the Gulf kingdom, although Ecclestone has consistently said the grand prix will go ahead.
Bahrain has an April 22nd slot on the calendar, later than this year’s cancelled race which was kept on the calendar and then rolled back until events on the ground forced organisers to admit defeat.
A bomb placed under a vehicle exploded near the British embassy in Bahrain’s capital Manama on Sunday, causing no casualties. A majority of the Formula One teams are British based.
2012 Calendar
March 16th-18th: Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne)
March 23rd-25th: Malaysia Grand Prix (Kuala Lumpur)
April 13th-15th: Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai)
April 20th-22nd: Bahrain Grand Prix (Sakhir)
May 11th-13th: Gran Premio De España (Catalunya)
May 24th-27th: Grand Prix De Monaco (Monte Carlo)
June 8th-10th: Grand Prix Du Canada (Montréal)
June 22nd-24th: Grand Prix of Europe (Valencia)
July 6th-8th: British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
July 20th-22nd: Grosser Preis Von Deutschland (German Grand Prix) (Hockenheim)
July 27th-29th: Eni Magyar Nagydíj 2012 (Hungarian Grand Prix) (Budapest)
August 31st-September 2nd: Belgian Grand Prix (Spa-Francorchamps)
September 7th-9th: Gran Premio D’Italia (Italian Grand Prix) (Monza)
September 21st-23rd: Singapore Grand Prix (Singapore)
October 5th-7th: Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka)
October 12th-14th: Korean Grand Prix (Yeongam)
October 26th-28th: Grand Prix of India (New Delhi)
November 2nd-4th: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Yas Marina Circuit)
November 16th-18th: United States Grand Prix (Austin)
November 23rd-25th: Grande Prêmio Do Brasil (Brazilian Grand Prix) (São Paulo)
