Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

F1 teams except Ferrari agree testing limits
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-26 09:33

All Formula One teams except champions Ferrari have agreed to restrict testing during the season to 30 days.

The cost-cutting agreement, signed by the nine team bosses at a meeting in London on Tuesday, limited them to European circuits approved by the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA).

Teams will not be able to test at more than one circuit on the same day or with more than two cars.

They also remain barred from using circuits that host an event on the calendar, with the exception of Silverstone, Barcelona and Monza.

Ferrari, who have their own track and sometimes test at three circuits on the same day, have not signed the agreement.

"I don't think it's surprising," said Minardi's Paul Stoddart. "We've had enough time to know that Ferrari don't favour this sort of agreement."

There had been fears that Honda-powered BAR, Ferrari's closest rivals last year, would abandon an agreement first mooted at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix in October.

Teams spend far more time testing cars and hugely expensive engines at deserted racetracks than they do in front of fans at races. This year also has more grands prix than ever -- 19 -- and teams are concerned about staff burnout.

"Everyone said (the) Brazil (agreement) would not survive the winter but it has," said Stoddart. "If anything it is actually stronger.

"At all points Ferrari are invited to participate. If they choose not to do so, that is for their own reasons."



Tennis star: Serena Williams
Real Madrid beat Mallorca 3-1
Monaco vs Lens
 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

Spring Festival peak travel jams railways

 

   
 

China's economy grows 9.5% in 2004

 

   
 

Migrant proposal sparks hot debate

 

   
 

Sailors who "abducted" fishing boat freed

 

   
 

Stampede at Hindu procession kills 150

 

   
 

Freed hostages leave Amman for home

 

   
  F1 teams except Ferrari agree testing limits
   
  Liverpool into League Cup final
   
  Federer humbles Agassi
   
  McGrady-less Rockets drub Magic 89-78
   
  17 Chinese athletes fail doping tests in 2004
   
  Atkinson slammed for insulting Chinese
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
Advertisement