Drivers Confirm Meeting with Mosley

FIA president Max Mosley called the meeting at Cannes on August 1st, in a bid to discuss growing concerns among drivers about safety at tests, and the implications of the events at Indianapolis.

Mosley said the meeting would only go ahead if half of the current 20-driver field promised to attend and, with 12 drivers having now confirmed they will appear, the discussions will now take place.

An FIA spokesman confirmed to Autosport-Atlas that 12 drivers had responded positively to the invite, although there was a sense of disappointment that not more had been so willing to confirm their attendance.

"Twelve drivers have confirmed that they will attend the meeting with the FIA President," said the spokesman. "Although this level of interest is disappointing, the FIA feels that the meeting should take place regardless.

"Those drivers who are prepared to attend and want to express their views on safety should have the opportunity to be heard."

It is not clear how many of the remaining eight drivers have simply failed to respond at all yet or have actually indicated that they will not attend. But the invitation to all drivers will remain open and no one will be barred from the meeting, even if they have previously indicated they will not attend.

Mosley had originally planned to meet the drivers at the British Grand Prix but he cancelled the meeting in the wake of crticial comments made by David Coulthard about the sport's 2005 regulations.