Teams Agree To Testing Restrictions

[ykickamoocow 0]

F1's eleven teams have now signed an in-season 'gentleman's' test agreement for the 2007 season.

The 30,000 kilometre per-team limit, signed by every Grand Prix competitor at Suzuka, signals yet another reduction in private track testing after the voluntary restricted days agreements of 2005 and '06.

It will operate hand-in-hand with the FIA's scrapping of official practice on the Fridays at race weekends, to make way for three hours of basically unrestricted testing at the scene of each grand prix.

Monopoly supplier Bridgestone also played a leading role in the negotiations, with the Japanese company agreeing to supply each team with 300 sets of tyres for in-season testing.

It is understood that there will be thirteen 'official' Formula One group tests between January 1 2007 and the last race of next year, with those teams not wanting to field a car able to transfer the running to a nominated 'home' venue.

''Yes, we have signed it,'' a spokesman for one of the Formula One teams confirmed by telephone on Monday, ''and our understanding is that everyone else (also) has, including Ferrari.''

The agreement was reportedly signed by team heads on Sunday.

Ferrari had reservations about signing up to a mileage-limited agreement, as it minimises the advantage of having the private test circuit at Fiorano.

Pre-season testing prior to 1 January, meanwhile, is still a bone of contention among teams, with many urging Bridgestone to agree to organise more than two three day tests.

http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/headlines/...009155008.shtml

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This is good news though i would have prefered to see less regular testing and more testing during a Grand Prix weekend as that is more entertaining for the fans.

[F1 FANatic 1]

I think you forget what testing does, it prevents the entire grid from having the things like Albers rear desintigration happen far more oftain. It also limits advancement in alot of areas, especialy areo and tyre work. Testing is the kry to competition. Nasa dint say lets not test these rockets before we fly them did they? its the same thing here, the teams are pretty much saying that they wont test their cars before driving them all because Burnie wants even more money, is 60% of the FOM profit not enough for one man, considering that the teams have to split the last 40% and that totals to about $700 million so burnie takes a good 8-900 mill a year.