The
FIA, however, also threw its hat into the ring by announcing that it would be banning traction control systems from next season, and introducing a wave of new scrutineering checks this season to ensure that teams are complying with the letter of the law.
The ban on traction control will come in after the governing body agreed that sophisticated electronics would help it detect the presence of TC-type systems, which were allowed back into the sport in 2001 when proving whether they were in use proved beyond the powers-that-be. Article 9.2.4 of the technical regulations will be reworded accordingly, to state that 'designs or systems which... are designed to, or have the effect of, adjusting or otherwise influencing the amount, or rate, of engagement being demanded by the FIA ECU, are not permitted'.
The World Motor Sport Council, however, decided against a return to the wider chassis and slick tyres that prevailed during what many believe to the sport's last modern heyday,and plans to introduce bodywork homologation, where teams would only be permitted to make two modifications per year, were also quietly dropped. However, the governing body has decided to close a potential loophole in the bodywork rules questions were raised about Ferrari’s innovative floor mounting system came to the fore in Australia.
Teams pointed to a spring-loaded device as improving the F2007’s aerodynamics at high speeds, while still allowing it to pass the 5mm bodywork deflection test when the car was at rest. With
BMW Sauber also suspected of using a similar system, the FIA has announced that all cars will have to pass scrutineering with any spring mounting devices removed.
