FIA says Austin, Bahrain, staying on 2012 calendar

Next year’s inaugural US grand prix at Austin has survived the meeting on Wednesday of the World Motor Sport Council.

Bernie Ecclestone had warned that without reaching a new agreement with the Circuit of the Americas officials, the event would be pulled from the 2012 calendar.

“The 2012 FIA formula one world championship calendar was confirmed as previously published,” said the governing body after the meeting in India.

That is also good news for Bahrain, amid reports the situation inside the island Kingdom might have endangered the race’s scheduled return to the F1 calendar next April.

The FIA also announced a raft of regulations tweaks, including one that will not escape the notice of the drivers.

“Drivers may no longer move back onto the racing line having moved off it to defend a position,” the statement read.

© RIF | GMM