FIA tweaks 2004 WRC calendar, GB still on.

The FIA - the governing body for the World Rally Championship, has today released a revised calendar for 2004 following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Monaco.

Wales Rally GB remains on the schedule despite concerns, however it is "subject to the receipt of a satisfactory report from MSA regarding the safety of roads in South Wales."

This follows controversy back in November, when Neath magistrates convicted 17 rally drivers of speeding on public roads during the 2002 event - something the FIA was less than amused with.

Two date changes meanwhile have been confirmed in the schedule for events in Argentina and Greece, the latter switching to June 4-6 [from May 28-30], while the former goes to July 16-18 [from June 11-13].

The FIA also confirmed which events will feature the Junior World Rally Championship [JWRC], and which will be part of the Production Car World Rally Championship [PCWRC]. In the first draft revealed back in October, Finland was designated a Production round, and Germany a Junior, this has now been reversed.

Cyprus and Japan meanwhile remain without a support category round.

The 'tweaked' schedule is below...

Revised 2004 FIA World Rally Championship calendar***:

Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo January 23, 24, 25# JWRC Uddeholm Swedish Rally February 6, 7, 8# PCWRCCorona Rally Mexico March 12, 13, 14 PCWRCRally of New Zealand April 16, 17, 18** PCWRCCyprus Rally May 14, 15, 16Acropolis Rally / Greece June 4, 5, 6 JWRC**Rally of Turkey June 25, 26, 27 JWRCRally Argentina July 16, 17, 18 PCWRC**Neste Rally Finland August 6, 7, 8 JWRCADAC Rallye Deutschland August 20, 21, 22 PCWRCRally Japan September 3, 4, 5Wales Rally GB September 17, 18, 19 JWRC*Rallye d'Italia-Sardinia October 1, 2, 3 JWRCRallye de France-Tour de Corse October 15, 16, 17 PCWRCRallye Catalunya-Rallye de Espana October 29, 30, 31 JWRCTelstra Rally Australia November 12, 13, 14 PCWRC

# Will not adopt the 'Mille Pistes' concept.

* denotes subject to the receipt of a satisfactory report regarding the safety of roads in South Wales
** denotes revised date.
*** denotes version as of December 12.