Mosley Wants More Races Outside Europe

Max Mosley called for more Formula One races outside Europe after being re-elected president of motor racing's ruling body, FIA, for a third and last four-year term.

"I think 11 races in Europe are a few too many," the 61-year-old Briton said after winning a unanimous vote during an FIA General Assembly in Cologne. Mosley, who was the only candidate, confirmed a second race in the United States was under consideration.

A circuit being built in Moscow should be ready to stage a race from 2003, China and India were other options and there were three bids from the Middle East alone, he added. The World Motor Sport Council approved on Wednesday a 17-race draft calendar for 2002, saying next year's British Formula One Grand Prix will go ahead, subject to the outcome of an inquiry into traffic conditions last July.

"Seventeen races are the absolute limit and 16 would be ideal but I still feel we should have 20," Mosley said in Cologne on Friday.

Mosley, who spoke in perfect German during a news conference, had good news for Germany as he confirmed that the ADAC Rally of Germany would be a World Championship event from next year.

Safety Improved

Mosley has focused on improving safety standards in Formula One since replacing Frenchman Jean-Marie Balestre in 1991 at the head of FISA, which was then the sport's division of FIA and disappeared in 1993. One of the co-founders of the March Formula One team in 1969, Mosley was himself a driver from club up to Formula Two, where he competed at international level.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who is close to Mosley, was made honourary FIA vice-president on Friday while retaining membership of the World Motor Sport Council as the teams' representative. The Council met in Cologne on Wednesday and ruled that FIA will no longer limit the amount of testing Formula One teams carry out.

It also decided to ban electronically powered steering systems and to increase wheel tether strength as well as the size of rear view mirrors and rear lights. In a separate announcement, FIA confirmed on Friday that it would move back to Paris from Switzerland in January next year.

"From January 2002 the FIA's headquarters will return to its historic home at the Place de la Concorde in Paris," the governing body said on its website. It is currently based in Geneva.