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PIT + PADDOCK Bearman was one of those to run in Abu Dhabi 2023 rookie test F1 rookie race plan canned, but could FORMULA 1 Formula 1’s plans to host a rookie sprint race during the Abu Dhabi post-season test in December have been abandoned for 2024, but the idea is set to be revisited in the future. The concept of a sprint event for young drivers on the Tuesday after the season- IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY: MOTORSPORT ALL closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina looked set for approval, with all major stakeholders in favour of the idea to give newcomers more relevant mileage in current F1 cars. The idea of turning the regular post-season rookie test into a race was first discussed in July, with a 10-car sprint featuring one entry per team proposed. The plans were further fleshed Rosberg and Arnoux at front at start of the 1983 Race of Champions out and then discussed during last week’s F1 Commission meeting, but the consensus was that F1 and governing body the FIA would leave themselves with too many logistical headaches to be solved. Therefore, it was agreed that more time was needed to properly flesh out the concept and any organisational roadblocks. “The concept of a ‘rookie race’ to be added to the 2024 post-season test schedule at Abu Dhabi was discussed,” a report from the Commission meeting stated. “While the concept received widespread support, it was determined that due to timing and organisational constraints, the event would not take place in 2024, and discussions will continue to formulate a potential concept and plan for 2025.” The outline of the plan was for a short qualifying session before the race, fitted around the regular Pirelli tyre testing element to the day. But off the back of a gruelling 24-race calendar, ending with a triple-header of Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, there were too many obstacles. The race would have been the first non-championship F1 race for world championship teams since the 1983 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch. Along with the International Trophy at Silverstone, 4 AUTOSPORT.COM 10 OCTOBER 2024

PIT + PADDOCK GRANT be on for 2025 that event was the traditional curtain raiser to the European F1 season in the 1970s. TWEAKS MADE TO 2026 REGULATIONS The F1 Commission did agree to changes to the all-new technical regulations for 2026, which were a source of concern from the teams when a first outline was presented in June and were then further refined in the FIA Technical Advisory Committee. It was agreed that the 2026 cars will get more aerodynamic performance than in the original proposals, to address worries that they were set to be too slow. The FIA statement described these amendments as “following extensive collaboration between the teams and the FIA over the last few months”. The F1 Commission also finalised the 2026 sporting and financial regulations and confirmed that there will be three separate three-day tests ahead of the 2026 season to help teams get up to speed with their all-new power units, which will be particularly valuable for new engine manufacturers Audi and Red Bull-Ford. All changes are still subject to approval by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council, which gathers on 17 October. FILIP CLEEREN Silverstone ELMS fixture could herald UK return for WEC ELMS/WEC Silverstone has outlined an ambition to once again host the World Endurance Championship after a return of the European Le Mans Series in 2025 was revealed last week. The ELMS is run by WEC co-organiser the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, and the fixture will be the first international endurance race on British soil since 2019. The ELMS will visit Silverstone on 14 September next year, replacing Mugello on a six-round schedule that is otherwise unchanged. It is a significant development given the absence of top-line endurance racing from Britain since the COVID pandemic played havoc with the international motorsport calendar in 2020 and 2021. The WEC/ELMS double-header set for the 31 August-1 September weekend in 2020 was one casualty, the Blancpain GT Endurance Cup fixture another. Silverstone boss Stuart Pringle revealed that he had been working to bring international sportscar racing back to Britain ever since 2020. “I’ve been trying for a while after COVID got in the way,” he said. “But, of course, it takes two to tango. In ’21 and ’22 the WEC decided to run a shorter programme of events, and that was important to them. There was a logic there even if it didn’t fit out agenda. “The aspiration to bring WEC back to Silverstone is most definitely there – absolutely we want a race in the future. I hope that a successful ELMS weekend will remind the Automobile Club de l’Ouest why we should have a round of the WEC. We have to prove that Pringle wants the WEC back SUTTON there is an appetite for top-level endurance racing in the UK.” How Silverstone might fit into the WEC calendar in the future isn’t clear. The schedule has returned to eight races for 2024 and the series management has hinted at aspirations to go to nine or maybe even 10 events in the future, which could open the door. Silverstone always favoured a late August or early September date, but that would appear to be unlikely with the current make-up of the calendar. “It would have to be whatever works for the series; we understand that,” said Pringle, who suggested that he would like to revive the Silverstone WEC/ ELMS double-header. “We are unusual in that we have two fully operational pitlanes, which allows us to run two major series at once in a harmonious way. I think those efficiencies are very much appreciated.” Next year’s Silverstone 4 Hours ELMS race will be supported by the Michelin Le Mans Cup. GARY WATKINS P15 OPINION JEP The UK’s last internatonal endurance race – 2019 WEC round at Silverstone 10 OCTOBER 2024 AUTOSPORT.COM 5

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PIT + PADDOCK

Bearman was one of those to run in Abu Dhabi 2023

rookie test

F1 rookie race plan canned, but could

FORMULA 1 Formula 1’s plans to host a rookie sprint race during the Abu Dhabi post-season test in December have been abandoned for 2024, but the idea is set to be revisited in the future.

The concept of a sprint event for young drivers on the Tuesday after the season-

IMAGES

PHOTOGRAPHY: MOTORSPORT

ALL

closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina looked set for approval, with all major stakeholders in favour of the idea to give newcomers more relevant mileage in current F1 cars. The idea of turning the regular post-season rookie test into a race was first discussed in July, with a 10-car sprint featuring one entry per team proposed. The plans were further fleshed

Rosberg and Arnoux at front at start of the 1983 Race of Champions out and then discussed during last week’s F1 Commission meeting, but the consensus was that F1 and governing body the FIA would leave themselves with too many logistical headaches to be solved. Therefore, it was agreed that more time was needed to properly flesh out the concept and any organisational roadblocks.

“The concept of a ‘rookie race’ to be added to the 2024 post-season test schedule at Abu Dhabi was discussed,” a report from the Commission meeting stated. “While the concept received widespread support, it was determined that due to timing and organisational constraints, the event would not take place in 2024, and discussions will continue to formulate a potential concept and plan for 2025.”

The outline of the plan was for a short qualifying session before the race, fitted around the regular Pirelli tyre testing element to the day. But off the back of a gruelling 24-race calendar, ending with a triple-header of Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, there were too many obstacles.

The race would have been the first non-championship F1 race for world championship teams since the 1983 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch. Along with the International Trophy at Silverstone,

4 AUTOSPORT.COM 10 OCTOBER 2024

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