The FIA World Rally Championship will introduce a 'number of measures to improve side impact protection' from next year.

A brief statement released by the FIA, following the latest World Motor Sport Council meeting in Monaco today, Friday December 7, read:

"A number of measures to improve side impact protection have been adopted for all manufacturer cars in the 2008 World Rally Championship

"The safety measures allow for more space for absorbing energy; a stronger supporting seat; an energy absorber; safety nets and optimised belt anchorage positions.

"Further side impact measures, including strong seat rails and a load spreading door cage, will be applied as soon as the manufacturers and the equipment suppliers are able to comply."

In a separate development meanwhile, the FIA Junior Rally Championship has been reinstated as a 'world' series - and will again be known as the FIA Junior World Rally Championship, as next year it will run over three continents, with events in Mexico, Jordan, Sardinia, Finland, Germany, Spain and France.