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WRC Commission meeting rejects Powerstage overhaul

The format of the World Rally Championship will not change for next season, following Thursday's crunch meeting between the FIA and series stakeholders

FIA president Jean Todt attended the WRC Commission meeting in Geneva, where an overhaul of the Powerstage - which meant dividing the time difference by a factor of 10 and grouping the crews together in a four-car shoot-out - was discussed.

Having been rejected by the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in September, the proposal did not secure support and will not be put forward to the next WMSC meeting in December.

WRC Promoter's Oliver Ciesla confirmed his firm's idea will not go any further.

"It has become apparent that the proposal is not mature enough to gain a majority," he told AUTOSPORT.

"We will continue to look for ways to make the Powerstage more exciting, but as it stands, this proposal is finished.

"Of course, I am disappointed. Everybody involved has put a lot of thought and brain power into this and I would have liked to have taken this concept to the market, but now we have to look elsewhere."

There was agreement on a host of other issues, though, including the running order.

A proposal will be made to the WMSC for the crews to run in championship order on days one and two of a rally, with priority drivers in reverse classification on the final day.

Todt is reportedly keen to take a more active role in the future direction of the championship - accepting that change needs to come in the near future.

The only other significant proposal from the meeting is to reduce the number of parts available at remote service and encourage event organisers to run new and longer stages.

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