The World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) met yesterday, agreeing to ban traction control in Formula 1 from 2008. The FIA proposal has been backed by all 11 teams currently competing in Formula 1.
The revised technical regulation now state: "No car may be equipped with a system or device which is capable of preventing the driven wheels from spinning under power or of compensating for excessive throttle demand by the driver."
Although a fan's favorite, wheel spin is considered inefficient, slowing down the car and damaging tires due to excessive wear. Traction control was first introduced in F1 in the late 80s and it soon became a key factor for success.
Among other electronic driver aids, traction control was outlawed at the end of the 1993 season, but by mid-2001 traction control legally returned to F1 as it was felt that it's virtually impossible to police whether or not teams were using it. Big spending manufacturer-backed teams were particularly concerned that the opposition wasn't playing fair. Now with the introduction of the FIA standardized Electronic Control Unit (ECU) on all cars in 2008, it will be easier for the governing body to ban traction control effectively.
FIA President Max Mosley is known to emphasize on drivers' ability to control the car in any given track conditions instead of relying on expensive electronic driver aids. Launch control, that provided an optimum start, was already banned prior to the 2004 season.
However, during the same meeting, the WMSC rejected the proposal to return to slick tires, decided that Formula 1 will stick to grooved tires.
Although a fan's favorite, wheel spin is considered inefficient, slowing down the car and damaging tires due to excessive wear. Traction control was first introduced in F1 in the late 80s and it soon became a key factor for success.
Among other electronic driver aids, traction control was outlawed at the end of the 1993 season, but by mid-2001 traction control legally returned to F1 as it was felt that it's virtually impossible to police whether or not teams were using it. Big spending manufacturer-backed teams were particularly concerned that the opposition wasn't playing fair. Now with the introduction of the FIA standardized Electronic Control Unit (ECU) on all cars in 2008, it will be easier for the governing body to ban traction control effectively.
FIA President Max Mosley is known to emphasize on drivers' ability to control the car in any given track conditions instead of relying on expensive electronic driver aids. Launch control, that provided an optimum start, was already banned prior to the 2004 season.
However, during the same meeting, the WMSC rejected the proposal to return to slick tires, decided that Formula 1 will stick to grooved tires.
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