2011 WRC calendar under review

Motorsport's governing body, the FIA, has delayed publication of the 2011 World Rally Championship calendar until it has been 'further considered' by a group of experts.

At a meeting today in Bahrain, the FIA World Motor Sport Council chose not to ratify the proposed calendar.

Instead, it asked the FIA President, Jean Todt, the President of the World Rally Commission, Morrie Chandler, and the Championship promoter North One Sport to look again at the proposal. It set a deadline of 16 April for the final version to be decided.

The World Council made two other WRC regulatory decisions today. Firstly, to improve competitor safety, Priority 1 and Priority 2 driver teams contesting all events of the WRC will be permitted to use Safety Car crews on tarmac events in the Championship.

Secondly, the World Council also clarified engine regulations for the next generation of World Rally Cars.

New homologation regulations have been adopted permitting the use of a 1.6 litre turbo engine with direct injection (based on the existing Super 2000 regulations). This engine may either be derived from the Manufacturer’s base engine, or be homologated in accordance with the strictly defined technical regulations.