Renault signs up for test cuts

The decision, which has yet to be officially confirmed, proved to be crucial as three teams had to commit to have restrictions placed on the amount of testing allowed during the season in exchange for a two-hour test session at each Grand Prix meeting for it to take place.

The final details of the testing programme will be sorted out at the team principals' meeting, which is planned for January 15. This will rubberstamp how much testing the teams will be able to complete during the season. Renault is believed to be targeting an increase from 10 to 12 days of free testing, as well as a clarification on how many cars can be run at these test days.

Jordan and Minardi are the other teams to sign up for the sessions, which are likely to run from 8.45am to 10.45am on Friday mornings.

"It gives us more of an opportunity to get ready for the race with the same car and circuit conditions, because they are always different at a test," said Jordan's director of race and test engineering Gary Anderson.

The full story appears in this week's issue of AUTOSPORT, which is on sale now.