FIA seeks time on cost cuts

The FIA and the teams are working on an agreement to drastically reduce the cost of the current World Rally Cars in the wake of uncertainty over the continuation of manufacturer involvement in the sport.

Only Citroen, Peugeot, Subaru and Ford have full-time factory programmes in the WRC at present and the last of those is considering its options. Skoda has announced that it will return with its Fabia in 2005 and Mitsubishi is also planning a comeback although it has yet to confirm a full programme.

FIA president Max Mosley is seeking an agreement from the manufacturers on a 'watered-down' WRC specification to make the the reduce the cost of the sport "very substantially". This is expected to call for a return to mechanical transmissions and a list of standardised parts including the ECU and turbocharger as well as a ban on exotic materials.

The World Council meeting also ratified the 2005 WRC calendar, which sees the Rally Italy moved up from its October date this year to a May slot in 2005. Other changes include a switch in dates for Turkey and Greece as well as the Rally GB and Japan.

Monte Carlo*
Sweden
Mexico*
New Zealand
Italy*
Cyprus
Turkey
Greece*
Argentina
Finland*
Germany*
GB
Japan
France*
Spain*
Australia

*Designated Junior World Rally Championship rounds