GENEVA (June 23, 2010) — The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) plans to revise the rules governing the World Rally Championship (WRC) to allow open competition among tire makers starting next year, reversing a single-supplier rule it instituted before the 2008 season.
The FIA's World Motor Sport Council disclosed its desire to amend this rule at a meeting in Geneva June 23. The council said regulations will be implemented to control costs, although it did not clarify what that might entail.
The proposal will be voted on by the full Motor Sport Council before July 20.
Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. has been the single tire supplier for both the WRC and associated Junior Rally Championship the past three seasons. Pirelli reportedly agreed to extend the contract through the 2011 season, according to reports by several motorsports journals.
The WRC is open to four-wheel-drive cars and is considered the highest class of rally racing. The JRC runs parallel to the WRC but is for front-wheel-drive cars only, according to FIA documents.