F1 carmakers oppose FIA's cost-cutting measures

LONDON, Jan 17, 2003; Alan Baldwin wrting for Reuters reported that Formula One carmakers set themselves on a collision course with the sport's governing body on Friday by advising their teams to resist cost-cutting measures announced this week.

The manufacturers said in a statement issued by GPWC Holdings, the company set up to run their own championship from 2008, that Formula One must remain a showcase for the highest level of technology and advanced research.

They said that there must be sufficient notice to any change to the rules and criticised the manner in which the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) had announced the package on Wednesday.

"GPWC is dismayed to note that the cost-cutting measures already proposed by the teams in December last year and supported by the manufacturers have effectively been partially disregarded by the FIA," it said.

"These measures were widely agreed to be reasonable and adequate and would without doubt have considerably reduced costs and fully enhanced the spectacle of Formula One."

The GPWC questioned "the content and manner of implementation" of the FIA's changes but said it was committed "to resolving matters in a manner that supports the sport.

"GPWC will therefore ask the teams affiliated to its members to analyse the appropriate mechanisms available to them, to ensure that changes are not implemented, or precedents set, that will cause problems for Formula One, the teams and the drivers in the future."

TOO BAD

FIA President Max Mosley, who masterminded the package, earlier warned that the governing body was not about to back down over measures that strip the sport of some of its high-technology 'driver aids'.

"If a major manufacturer doesn't like it, too bad," the Guardian newspaper quoted him as saying.

"If a major manufacturer pulls out of the sport because of it, again too bad. What we will gain from these rule changes is far bigger than what we will lose by their absence."

The FIA has said that two-way telemetry, the sophisticated systems that allow engineers to change settings on a car from a distance and to download data while it is on the move, will not be allowed from the start of the season on March 9.

Pit to car radio will also be outlawed while traction control and launch control systems used to make quick getaways at the start of a race must vanish by 2004 if it proves too expensive to remove earlier.

Other changes concerning engine longevity will be implemented in subsequent years subject to the approval of the FIA's technical committee.

The GPWC said the five manufacturers on the board -- Ferrari, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford and Renault -- had discussed positively the idea of supplying engines to more teams to ensure there was no shortage in future. BMW are engine suppliers to Williams, DaimlerChrysler are McLaren's partners through Mercedes, Ford own Jaguar and supply Jordan and Minardi with engines, while world champions Ferrari are owned by FIAT and also supply engines to Sauber.

Renault have their own team while the Japanese car giants Toyota and Honda are not on the board of GPWC.