6 September: The FIA
has today provided the Technical Working Group (TWG) with three packages in
relation to the proposed regulation changes for 2005 and 2006. The FIA sent
the following letter to the Formula 1 teams:
The FIA is required to submit three packages of measures to
the Technical Working Group. The three packages we would like you to consider
are attached.
Although not required to do so by the Concorde Agreement, we would also be
prepared to submit a combination of elements taken from different packages to
the World Motor Sport Council, if such a combination had the support of the
Technical Working Group and the Formula One Commission.
In addition, there are two safety matters which we would like to introduce as
soon as possible, but which cannot be introduced under Article 7.5, because
they will not necessarily slow the cars.
These are :
the elimination of materials likely to leave sharp shards
on the circuit in the event of an accident; and
a reduction in the weight limit sufficient to eliminate
ballast (at least on most of the cars) in order to reduce the energy to be
dissipated if control of a car is lost. This would be combined, if
necessary, with a change in relative wheel widths front to rear.
Package 1 consists of the FIA’s suggestions for
Sporting and Technical Regulations dated 16 July 2004 with the following
differences :
1)
The following amendments will be made to
Article 3 :
3.7
Front bodywork height :
3.7.1
All bodywork situated forward of a point lying 330mm
behind the front wheel centre line, and more than 250mm from the centre
line of the car, must be no less than 100mm and no more than 300mm above
the reference plane. Furthermore, all bodywork situated forward of a
point lying 330mm in front of the front wheel centre line, and more than
250mm from the centre line of the car, must be no less than 150mm and no
more than 350mm above the reference plane.
3.7.2
All bodywork situated forward of a point lying 330mm in
front of the front wheel centre line must be no less than 50mm above the
reference plane. 2) Additional constraints will be placed on engines in
2006 : - The cylinder bore will be fixed - The cylinder spacing and
engine length will be fixed - The crankshaft centre line height will be
fixed - The engine mounting points front and rear will be fixed
2)
Additional constraints will be placed on
engines in 2006 :
The cylinder bore will be fixed
The cylinder spacing and engine length will be fixed
The crankshaft centre line height will be fixed
The engine mounting points front and rear will be fixed
Package 2 consists of the FIA’s suggestions for
Sporting and Technical Regulations dated 16 July 2004 with the following
amendments to Article 3 :
3.9
Bodywork between the rear wheels :
3.9.1
No bodywork more than 100mm from the car centre line, and
which is situated between the rear wheel centre line and a point lying
330mm forward of it, may be more than 600mm above the reference plane.
3.9.2
No bodywork between 75mm and 480mm from the car centre
line, and which is situated between the rear wheel centre line and a
point lying 150mm behind it, may be located between 375mm and 600mm
above the reference plane.
3.10
Height behind the rear wheel centre line :
3.10.1
Any part of the car behind the centre line of the rear
wheels must not be more than 800mm above the reference plane.
3.10.2
No bodywork behind the centre line of the rear wheels,
and more than 150mm each side of the longitudinal centre line of the
car, may be less than 300mm above the reference plane.
3.10.3
Any bodywork more than 150mm behind the rear wheel centre
line which is between 300mm and 600mm above the reference plane, and
between 75mm and 480mm from the car centre line, must lie in an area
when viewed from the side of the car that is situated between 300mm and
375mm above the reference plane and between 150mm and 500mm behind the
rear wheel centre line. When viewed from the side of the car no
longitudinal cross section may have more than one closed section in the
lower area.
Any bodywork behind the rear wheel centre line which is more than
375mm above the reference plane, and between 75mm and 480mm from the car
centre line, must lie in an area when viewed from the side of the car
that is situated between 600mm and 800mm above the reference plane and
between the rear wheel centre line and a point 350mm behind it. When
viewed from the side of the car, no longitudinal cross section may have
more than two closed sections in the upper area. Furthermore, the
distance between adjacent sections at any longitudinal plane must not
exceed 15mm at their closest position.
In side view, the projected area of any bodywork lying between 300mm
and 800mm above the reference plane and between the rear wheel centre
line and a point 600mm behind it must be greater than 230000mm˛.
3.17.2
Bodywork may deflect no more than 10mm vertically when a
500N load is applied vertically to it 450mm forward of the rear wheel
centre line and 650mm from the car centre line. The load will be applied
in a downward direction using a 50mm diameter ram and an adapter of the
same size, Teams must supply the latter when such a test is deemed
necessary.
Package 3 consists of the FIA’s suggestions for
Sporting and Technical Regulations dated 16 July 2004 with the following
differences for application in 2006 :
1)
The car reference plane will be required to
extend as far forward as the front wheel centre line.
2)
All turning vanes and barge boards will be
forbidden.
3)
The only changes to Article 5 will be the
following :
5.1
Engine specification :
5.1.1
Only 4-stroke engines with reciprocating pistons are
permitted.
5.1.2
Engine capacity must not exceed 2400 cc.
5.1.3
Supercharging is forbidden.
5.1.4
All engines must have 8 cylinders and the normal section
of each cylinder must be circular.
5.1.5
Engines may have no more than 5 valves per cylinder.
5.2
Other means of propulsion :
5.2.1
The use of any device, other than the 2.4 litre, four
stroke engine described in 5.1 above, to power the car, is not
permitted.
5.2.2
The total amount of recoverable energy stored on the car
must not exceed 300kJ, any which may be recovered at a rate greater than
2kW must not exceed 20kJ.
Note : To be accompanied by a sporting rule that no team
may use an engine which is not available free of charge and on a fully
competitive basis to a number of other teams equal to or greater than
the number of teams entered in the Championship divided by the number of
different makes of engine in use, rounded up to the nearest whole
number. The supplier of each such engine (or its parent company when
deemed appropriate by the FIA) would be required to give a binding
undertaking to the FIA that it would not cease supply without first
giving written notice during the year preceding its last full year of
participation.