FIA to review 2010 WRC regulations

There had been an expectation that the regulations for 2010 could have been rubber-stamped during today's meeting in Paris.

Instead, the opposite has occurred, with the sport's governing body the FIA stating that it wants more information on the potential cost implications of the new regulations in time for the next WMSC meeting in December.

The statement said: "The WMSC expressed its concern at the apparent potential increase in the cost of a World Rally Car. The WRC Commission will therefore review the current direction of the proposed 2010 technical regulations, in order to ensure that the original decision to use no more than a removable, bolt-on kit to change a Super 2000 or Group N car into a World Rally Car is maintained."

Autosport's sources inside today's meeting said: "This seems to be quite a clear message: the cars must be cheaper. Full stop. There is feeling that the regulations have almost turned full circle and the 2010 cars would be pretty much the same as they are now. That's not what the FIA wants.

"The FIA wants a kit which can be bolted on and off a Super 2000 or Group N car in next to no time. If it doesn't get that - well, it will get that. In their current form, the regulations appear to have gotten away from there."

The only other decision taken by WMSC related to the number of mandatory events a Manufacturer Two (M2) team has to contest in 2009. The number has been reduced to eight, taking into account the reduction - from 15 to 12 - the number of rallies on the calendar.