FIA looking to raise team fees

24/06/2008
NEWS STORY

As drivers consider their next move, having voiced their concern at the FIA's decision to increase the cost of their super-licences, the sport's governing body is about to hit teams with an equally controversial price hike.

At tomorrow's meeting in Paris, the FIA World Council will propose a move to make teams pay more for the various services and equipment provided at every F1 race, adding the cost to the entry fee. The move would see the entry fee more than double.

In the same way that the FIA wants to see drivers meet some of the safety costs, the sport's governing body wants to see the teams pay their share of the improved safety and logistical facilities provided at events, having previously met much of the cost itself.

While the move is unlikely to go down well with the teams, in much the same way as it didn't with the drivers, it should be remembered that Max Mosley, as part of his negotiations for a new Concorde Agreement, is seeking a bigger slice of the financial cake for the teams.

Among the services that the FIA wants the teams to pay for are:

Marshalling and Positioning System (F1MS), which provides race control with accurate real time information about each car's position on the track and enables light signals to be sent to the cars from race control. The annual cost of the Marshalling System to the FIA is 1,026,000 euros. The total cost per team (based on ten teams competing) will be 102,600 euros.

Light flags to complement the F1MS, light panels around the track which will supplement flag signals which give race control an accurate record of what signals are shown and when. The annual cost of the to the FIA is 1,232,000 euros. The total cost per team (based on ten teams competing) will be 123,200 euros.

Surveillance Data Recorder (SDR), essentially the accident data recorder fitted to cars. The annual cost of the to the FIA is 130,900 euros. The total cost per team (based on ten teams competing) will be 13,090 euros.

FIA Pit Lane and Garage Communication Network, a new sms-based communication aimed at replacing the need for 'runners'. As proposed the cost would be 70,400 euros per year to each team

Weather Forecast Service, what it says on the tin, a weather forecasting service. The annual cost of the to the FIA is 485,000 euros. The total cost per team (based on ten teams competing) will be 48,500 euros

Pit Wall Intercom System, the system which has been in use for the last six season, the cost to be divided between the teams and the FIA. The annual cost of the to the FIA is 780,000 euros. The total cost per team (based on ten teams competing and the FIA making a similar contribution) will be 70,910 euros.

Based on ten teams competing, the new measures will cost each team 428,700 euros (Ł339,000) a year, which, combined with the official entry fee, will see the figure rise to 740,000 euros (Ł586,000).