[nipcarlover]

The FIA has finalized rules the rules for the 2014 season.

Changes include allowance of testing, penalty points on license, and new penalties for changing of engine components and gearboxes.

A few excerpts:

Source: FIA confirms return to testing as 2014 rules are finalised

The FIA World Motor Sport Council had today completed a lot of housekeeping related to the 2014 Sporting and Technical regulations, including the ratification of a return to in-season testing.

Also new is a penalty point system, with drivers facing a one-race ban should they accumulate 12 points. Points remain in place for 12 months which means they can be carried over into the following season.

A penalty point system for drivers will be introduced. If a driver accumulates more than 12 points he will be banned from the next race. Points will stay on the driver’s licence for 12 months. The amount of points a driver may be given for infringements will vary from one to three depending upon the severity of the offence.

Four two-day track tests will be allowed in season in place of the current eight one-day promotional days and the three-day young driver test. These will take place at tracks in Europe on the Tuesday and Wednesday after a race in order to ensure minimal additional resources are necessary.

A number of new regulations have been confirmed to govern the new, far more complex power units. It is agreed that only five power units may be used by each driver for the whole season. Any use of an additional complete power unit will result in that driver having to start the race from the pit lane. Any changes of individual elements above the permitted five, such as turbocharger, MGU or Energy Store, will result in a 10 grid place penalty.

No manufacturer will be allowed to homologate more than one power unit during the homologation period from 2014-2020. Changes to the homologated unit will continue to be permitted for installation, reliability or cost saving reasons.

Drivers must now use a gearbox for six consecutive events, an increase from the current five.

[nitrous]

Also new is a penalty point system, with drivers facing a one-race ban should they accumulate 12 points. Points remain in place for 12 months which means they can be carried over into the following season.

So, Charlie Whiting's a lurker on team-bhp.

These will take place at tracks in Europe on the Tuesday and Wednesday after a race in order to ensure minimal additional resources are necessary.

How will they manage to transport the stuff to the next location on time if there was a race, the following weekend?