FIA press release 95-10-19

Edited by Robert Heathcote for SpeedNet, F1 Related Excerpts from:

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE L'AUTOMOBILE (FIA)

Proposals from different Commissions of the FIA were submitted to the World Motor Sport Council which examined them and approved the following at its meeting held in Paris on 19 October 1995.

FORMULA ONE

WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT:

Overtaking ---------- Appendix L Chapter IV .1. of the International Sporting Code will be enforced by the Stewards in Formula One on the basis that drivers are free to drive as they wish provided they do not deliberately endanger another driver or repeatedly obstruct him on a straight. Commenting on this decision the President of the FIA, Max Mosley said: "Racing is different to the road in one sense - when competing you drive to the limit of your abilities. We held a meeting earlier this month with leading Formula One drivers and they agreed that no driver should endanger another driver but otherwise should be allowed to compete freely. The World Council has accepted this view. The drivers are top professionals so we will let them get on with it".

Start ----- The green light may come on at any time after the red light is shown (previously there was a mandated 4-7 second delay).

1996 SPORTING REGULATIONS

Practice -------- Free practice will take place on Friday (Thursday for Monaco), from 11.00 to 12.00 and from 13.00 to 14.00, and on Saturday from 9.00 to 9.45 and from 10.15 to 11.00. Each driver is allowed a maximum of 30 laps on each day (currently 23 laps). There will only be one qualifying practice session which will take place on Saturday from 13.00 to 14.00; the maximum number of laps (12) will remain unchanged. A spare car may be used in the qualifying practice but not in the free practice sessions.

World Championship Entry List ----------------------------- The FIA will publish the list of cars and drivers accepted to compete in the championship, together with their race numbers, 22 days after the last race of the previous (1995) season (Thus, the 1996 FIA Formula One World Championship Entry List will be published on 5th December 1995).

Calendar -------- The 1996 FIA Formula One World Championship will comprise 16 events, as follows:

         10 March      Australia              Melbourne
         31 March      Brazil                 Interlagos
          7 April      Argentina **           Buenos Aires
         28 April      Date blocked ***
          5 May        San Marino             Imola
         19 May        Monaco                 Monte Carlo
          2 June       Spain                  Barcelona
         16 June       Canada                 Montreal
         30 June       France                 Magny-Cours
         14 July       Great Britain          Silverstone
         28 July       Germany                Hockenheim
         11 August     Hungary                Budapest
         25 August     Belgium                Spa-Francorchamps
          8 September  Italy                  Monza
         22 September  Portugal*              Estoril
          6 October    Date blocked ***
         13 October    Date blocked ***

* The incluslon of the Portuguese Grand Prix in the 1996 calendar is subjet to the building of new media facilities.

** Subject to confirmation

*** The dates of the Pacific and Japanese Grand Prix will be announced later

TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

For 1996, side structures and raised lateral headrests have been introduced to increase the protection of the driver's head and neck. Further safety measures, including larger cockpits allowing for more padding and better access and egress will be introduced in 1997.

(end of F1 related excerpts of FIA Press Release)

Paris, 19, October 1995

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