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FIA launches probe into World Rally Championship timing

The FIA has launched an investigation into the delivery of timing and tracking in the World Rally Championship.
Previous supplier Stage One Technology was dropped in favour of Spanish firm SIT this year.
The teams, event organisers and drivers have been frustrated from the start of the season by a variety of issues with both the timing and tracking.
The lack of split times, accurate or otherwise, has made it difficult for the teams to track and relay progress of their cars against the competition.
Tracking issues include Volkswagen being unaware of Sebastien Ogier having to stop his car to open a closed gate mid-stage in Mexico, and the system failing to pick up Mads Ostberg's accident in Sardinia.
The Norwegian's M-Sport team was unaware until being telephoned by Ostberg.
The FIA's rally director Jarmo Mahonen said: "We are six months in now and the time has come to deliver a good service. We have met internally in the FIA and now we have launched the investigation."
SIT's Pedro Cieza said his firm had received mixed messages from the sport.
"At the beginning, we were told split times were [a] secondary [concern], but now we know that this is not the case and we have been making times more and more accurate rally through rally," he said.
"I am not making excuses, but our timing system is very high technology for some of the local marshals to use. We expect this to be easier on the next rallies.
"We have run real-time tests in Madrid this week and I need some feedback from my technical department.
"This is a question of time. When we were given the contract in November, we were given one month and a half to get everything ready.
"If we had been told in August we were doing this job then it would have been a different story."

Poland leads race as World Rally Championship plans new 2014 event

Next year's World Rally Championship will include one completely new round, according to FIA rally director Jarmo Mahonen.
Mahonen confirmed that one of the candidate rallies running this season will be included on the 2014 WRC calendar expected in coming weeks.
While Mahonen would not be drawn on the specifics of the calendar and refused to confirm a drop from 13 to 12 rounds for next season, he did say a new event would feature.
Brazil, China and Poland are believed to be the three countries running candidates this season and speculation suggests that Poland is looking increasingly likely to make the grade.
Poland has been included twice before (in 1973 and 2009), with the Mikko Hirvonen-won event of four years ago one of that season's highlights.
There is an increased appetite for rallying in Poland folllowing Robert Kubica's switch to the WRC with Citroen.
This year's Rally Poland runs as a round of the European Rally Championship in September.
Brazil and China are both key markets, however, and the WRC is expected to be running in both countries in the near future.
Mahonen said: "I don't want rallies coming with the asterix [meaning provisional]. That is why we decided to postpone the original announcement.
"We want the calendar to be set and I expect one of the candidate rallies to be included."

FIA announces F1 pitlane clampdown after German GP incident

Formula 1's ruling body, the FIA, has announced an immediate ban on anyone other than marshals and team personnel in the pitlane during qualifying and races following the incident during the German Grand Prix.
Formula One Management cameraman Paul Allen suffered broken ribs, a broken collarbone and concussion after he was hit by a loose tyre from Mark Webber's car which fell off following a botched pitstop. He is expected to make a full recovery.
As well as the new personnel restrictions, with the only exception being approved members of the media allowed on the pit wall, the FIA is also fast-tracking a reduction in pitlane speed limits and the mandatory wearing of helmets for team members involved in pitstops.
A statement issued by the FIA said that its president Jean Todt had requested the World Motor Sport Council approve the changes, which had already been planned for 2014, immediately.
The pitlane speed limit will be reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h, except in Australia, Monaco and Singapore, where it will be 60km/h.
Furthermore the speed limit may be amended by the stewards if the safety delegate recommends it.
The FIA said it is also expecting a written report from Red Bull about the causes of the pit lane incident to be submitted on Wednesday. The details of this will be shared with other teams in order to help improve safety.

Monte Carlo Rally revives Casino Square start for 2014 WRC

One of the most famous start venues in world motorsport will return next year, when the 2014 Monte Carlo Rally gets underway from Casino Square.
The French Alps classic moved out of the principality in 2007 and was centred on Valence in the Drome region.
Next year's route returns what is likely to be the opening round of the World Rally Championship to its more traditional Monaco-Monaco format.
The Casino Square start is late on the afternoon of Tuesday January 14. The location was used for the Volkswagen WRC launch last year (pictured).
Shakedown runs the following morning at an all-new stage close to Gap, while competition proper starts on Thursday January 16 with two loops of Orpierre-Saint Andre de Rosans (15.86 miles), Rosans-Sainte Marie-La Charce (11.18 miles) and Montauban sur l'Ouveze-Col du Perty-Laborel (12.03 miles). Mid-day service will be in Gap.
Friday runs out of Gap as well, starting with Vitrolles-Col D'Espreaux-Faye (30.60 miles) and Selonnet-Col des Garcinets-Breziers (14.13 miles).
After a final service in Gap, the crews will head south for Monaco, returning to Vitrolles on the way. They will also drive the legendary Sisteron-Col de Fontbelle-Thoard (22.80 miles) and Digne-Col de Corobin-Chaudon Norante (12.17 miles) at night.
Saturday will bring its usual break in the morning before two loops of two stages in the evening, the first being the infamous La Bollene Vesubie-Col de Turini-Moulinet (14.67 miles) and the second the new Sospel-Col de Brouis-Breil sur Roya (10.37 miles) stage.
After a late night return to Monaco, the podium celebrations take place outside the palace on Sunday January 19.