FIA News: World Motor Sport Council Decisions in Geneva

The FIA World Motor Sport Council convened for its third meeting of 2023.

The meeting was chaired by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem with FIA Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid and WMSC members joining in person at the Federation’s offices in Geneva and via video conference.

Note: Highlights in bold

FIA Formula One World Championship

The World Council noted the recent appointment by e-vote of Pirelli as the Sole Supplier for tires in the FIA Formula One World Championship, FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 Championships for 2025-27. More information on this topic can be found here.

Following the ongoing work of the relevant Committees and Working Groups and approval by the Power Unit manufacturers, the World Council approved several refinements to the 2026 Power Unit Sporting, Technical and Financial Regulations, as well as amendments regarding the supply and development of fuel.

The World Council approved an update to the Sporting Regulations increase the number of days permitted for official tire testing from 35 to 40. Additionally, a provision to add a maximum of four car days of testing organized by the FIA in consultation with all Competitors for the express purpose to facilitate the research into spray reduction techniques in wet weather, was approved.

FIA World Rally Championship

The 2024 FIA World Rally Championship calendar was approved featuring a 13-event schedule and Rally Latvia joining the series for the first time. A round of the FIA European Rally Championship since 2013 when it ran as Rally Liepāja, the Baltic event was subjected to an FIA inspection earlier this year.

The full calendar follows:

FIA World Endurance Championship

Technical Regulations for the new class set for introduction in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship called LMGT3 have been approved. The new GT class will be based around FIA’s existing GT3 technical platform and will focus on gentlemen drivers and private teams. LMGT3 will replace cars built to LMGTE technical regulations that have been on the FIA WEC grid since the series’ inaugural season in 2012. The cars will feature several WEC-specific adaptations such as luminescent number panels and leader lights.

The introduction of an enhanced qualifying format where both Hypercar and LMGT3 classes will feature two sessions each has also been approved. Both classes will have a 12-minute qualifying followed by a 10-minute-long Hyperpole for the top 10 qualifiers that will decide the pole position winners. Previously, each class featured a single, 15-minute qualifying, with the Hyperpole format reserved only for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

ABB FIA Formula E World Championship 

The 2023 – 2024 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship calendar has been approved as follows:

It has been also agreed to continue excluding Formula E Drivers Costs from both the Financial Regulations for Manufacturers and Teams in Season 11 and in Season 12.

International Sporting Code

The ISC had previously determined that the maximum fine amount that the stewards can impose is 250,000 euros. This amount has not been reviewed nor amended for at least the last twelve years and does not reflect the current needs of motor sport, and the World Council therefore approved an update to this maximum limit in certain championships as follows:

• FIA Formula One World Championship – 1,000,000 euros
• All other FIA World Championships – 750,000 euros
• All other FIA Championships, cups, trophies, challenges or series – 500,000 euros

In October 2022, the Council of the European Union stressed the need to prevent and counter the use of pyrotechnics at sports venues. Following review of the situation in motor sport, it has been concluded that the unauthorized use of all pyrotechnical devices at races can pose significant public health and safety risks and, as such, should be prevented and countered.

The World Council therefore approved new provision and definition in the ISC prohibiting the unauthorized possession and use of pyrotechnics (such as Orange Flairs at Zandvoort) at FIA competitions.