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Tweak to four-race gearbox rule likely |
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Monday, 12 May 2008 |
May 12 (GMM) A slight tweak to the new long-life gearbox rules is likely to be introduced soon.
This year, under the risk of five-position grid penalties, drivers may use only one complete gearbox for four grand prix weekends.
The rule, however, does not apply on Fridays, meaning that one-off gearboxes are fitted to the cars throughout the initial three hours of official practice.
However, the combination of the two scenarios - despite the FIA's desire to reduce costs - means that teams are actually bringing more gearboxes to races than ever before.
Not only are spare four-race gearboxes ready in the transporters in the event of a failure on Saturday, teams are also bringing to races spare Friday gearboxes -- as well as the sealed current four-race 'box per car.
At a bosses' meeting at Istanbul, the teams apparently agreed to a slight rule tweak, which could be introduced as early as Monaco, pending the consent of the World Motor Sport Council.
The new rule will mean that, in the event of a failure on Saturday, drivers - albeit still punished five grid places - will be allowed to simply get through the remainder of the weekend with a 'Friday-spec' one-off gearbox.
The next four-race phase will only then begin at the next event, thus removing the need for spare four-race gearboxes to be on site at grands prix.
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