Australian GP Boss Hails F1 Technical Changes

Formula One has been hauled out of the space age and brought back to earth for ordinary fans to enjoy, Australian Grand Prix boss Ron Walker said today.

Responding to the widespread technical changes introduced on Wednesday, Walker hailed the International Automobile Federation (FIA) for their action before the opening race of the season in Melbourne on March 9.

"(The FIA) is getting F1 out of the space age and returning it to pure motor racing," he said in a statement.

"The operating costs for the teams had got way out of control and so much of the money being spent meant nothing to the people who matter most in the big picture - the hundreds of millions of viewers watching the global phenomenon of F1."

The FIA announced that it would interpret strictly the existing regulations which stipulate that "the driver must drive cars alone and unaided" to eliminate so-called 'driver aids' such as the anti-wheelspin traction control systems.

Bi-directional telemetry, used by engineers to change settings on a car while it is racing, and the 'launch control' systems used for lightning starts off the grid will also be outlawed along with in-car radio communications.