| The FIA (the governing body of motorsport) has | | | | down-sized to 2.4 litre V8 motors with 4 valves |
| made quite a few changes to the technical | | | | per cylinder. The minimum number of gears for |
| regulations of F1 cars. Some of these will be in | | | | these cars is 4 and the maximum is 7. The wheel |
| effect as early as the start of the 2006 season | | | | width at the front of all cars must be between |
| and the rest will only come into play in 2008.Here | | | | 390mm and 450mm with the width at the rear |
| are some of the more interesting specs that | | | | being between 490mm and 505mm. The overall |
| have changed:It was decided last night (Monday | | | | weight of the engine must be at least 95kg.The |
| 24th Ocober) at a meeting of the Formula One | | | | FIA have given a concession to manufacturers |
| Commission in London that the qualifying format | | | | and teams not ready with their new engines |
| for Formula One is changing for next season and | | | | saying they will allow them to use other engines |
| the changing of tyres during races will be allowed | | | | (such as the V10 engines currently being used) |
| again. They are also considering a radical change in | | | | with the performance decreased; obviously this |
| the rear-wing design which might be brought in as | | | | will be controlled by the FIA and no-one else.All |
| early as 2007.For more on Formula One click | | | | cars must now be fitted with a starter which the |
| here.The new qualifying is going to work as | | | | driver must be capable of using to start the |
| follows:A 3 phase qualifying knockout with the 5 | | | | engine from his seated position. This should cut |
| slowest cars after 15 minutes dropping out. 5 | | | | out some of those embarrasing failed starts to |
| more cars will drop out in the next 15 minutes | | | | GP's for some drivers.From 2008 the FIA will |
| and the remaining cars will compete in a 20 | | | | choose 1 tyre manufacturer to supply all the |
| minute session for the top positions on the | | | | teams. This is a dramatic change and should |
| grid.Qualifying has been changed a lot in recent | | | | increase the excitement value by levelling the |
| years to try and get better exposure for smaller | | | | playing field a bit; it's a real pity they could only |
| teams and at the same time mix the grid up to | | | | get this in from 2008.Pit to car telemetry will be |
| allow for more overtaking during a race.The new | | | | prohibited so the team will not be able to fix any |
| split rear wing (called the Centre Downwash | | | | gremlins from the pit-wall and all voice radio |
| Generating Wing) has been designed to allow | | | | communication must be open and accessible to |
| closer following and therefore more passing | | | | both the FIA and the broadcasters.No competitor |
| opportunities as well. A step in the right direction | | | | can carry out more than 30,000km of testing |
| as recent changes to the cars and especially | | | | during a year.Some interesting changes here, I |
| aerodynamics have been mostly to slow the cars | | | | sincerely hope it increases the competitiveness |
| down instead of increase entertainment.The | | | | and excitement of this sport because it needs |
| weight of the entire vehicle, including the driver, | | | | it.Written by the Webmaster of All About All |
| must now not be less than 550kg. This has been | | | | Sport. |
| decreased from 605kg.The engines have been | | | | |