WRC set for major overhaul

Following today's World Motorsport Council meeting, the FIA has announced several moves which will radically alter the shape of the sport  - including a new points system, engine limitations, one tyre manufacturer, remote servicing and three new events. Most will come into force next year.

The details of the changes will be finalised by the World Rallies Commission before the next World Council meeting.

The biggest overall change is the abolition of the controversial Super Rally regulations. Currently drivers can rejoin a rally that they have 'retired' from with only a five-minute penalty per stage missed.

This has meant that several drivers have come back from incidents that once would have caused a retirement to score World Championship points. The highest profile case of this was in Monte Carlo this year, when Sebastien Loeb crashed out of the first leg but still recovered to finish second.

As of next season, the Super Rally rules will be ditched, in favour of bonus points for each leg aimed at increasing car count in the latter stages of the event and encouraging teams to repair retired vehicles and re-enter them in the event.

The fastest finisher over each leg will earn three championship points, with two points for the second fastest and a single point for third. This is independent of the overall rally classification, and it means there is now a maximum 19 points available per weekend.

However, there are a number of other interesting changes. Remote servicing, under restricted conditions, will be allowed back into the championship and there will be testing restrictions for Manufacturer 1 drivers.

Engines will be limited and, like in Formula One, a single-tyre manufacturer will also be sought, with the FIA beginning the tender process immediately. However, these tyres will be of different specification to the present ones and anti-deflation mousse will be outlawed.

Currently, the latest specification cars have a mousse that is automatically squirted into a tyre when it suffers a puncture, limiting the effects. This practice will be banned.

In addition, a car that does not have all four wheels will not be allowed to limp back to service and must retire from the event.

The FIA also added that the introduction of Biofuel will happen at the earliest opportunity and this is being studied by the FIA Technical Department.