GreenBkk Formula 1 | FIA gets tough on unsporting driving

FIA gets tough on unsporting driving

Motor sport's governing council, the FIA, has announced stricter driving regulations in attempt to eradicate the sport from dangerous and unsporting driving.

The changes, which were adopted at the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Monaco on Friday, have been published in the Sporting and Technical Regulations for 2011.

In an attempt to have cleaner races next season, the FIA will clamp down on aggressive defensive driving and drivers who regularly gain an advantage by running off the track.

According to the latest regulations "manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as more than one change of direction to defend a position, deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted".

On drivers benefiting from leaving the track the rulebook states "drivers must use the track at all times. For the avoidance of doubt the white lines defining the track edges are considered to be part of the track but the kerbs are not.

"A driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with the track.

"Should a car leave the track for any reason the driver may rejoin. However, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any advantage."

Backmarkers will also need to toe the line from next season if they don't want to face penalties.

"As soon as a car is caught by another car which is about to lap it during the race the driver must allow the faster driver past at the first available opportunity. If the driver who has been caught does not allow the faster driver past, waved blue flags will be shown to indicate that he must allow the following driver to overtake.

"Any driver who is deemed to be ignoring the waved blue flags will be reported to the stewards of the meeting."

Overtaking in the pitlane will also be a no-no in 2011.

"Any car(s) driven to the end of the pitlane prior to the start or re-start of a practice session, or any car(s) required to stop at the pit exit during a safety car period, must form up in a line in the fast lane and leave in the order they got there unless another car is unduly delayed."

Credit: PlanetF1.com (www.planetf1.com)