LEAD: FIA allows one in-season F1 test, approves 2012 calendar

Dec 7, 2011, 13:30 GMT

New Delhi - Formula One teams will be allowed to hold one three-day in season-test from next year onwards and the 2012 calendar was approved unchanged, the World Motor Sport Council of the ruling body FIA said on Wednesday.

The FIA said the 'calendar was confirmed as previously published,' including a United States race in Texas and the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The US GP in Austin, Texas, was confirmed for November 18 as an agreement was reached after doubts over contract issues.

'Circuit of The Americas announced today they have reached an agreement with Formula One Management that ensures the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix remains on the FIA Formula 1 World Championship race calendar,' American organizers said.

Red McCombs, a founding partner of the yet-to-be built circuit, said that 'Mr (Bernie) Ecclestone received his check today.'

The Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled for April 22 after being cancelled twice this year because of political unrest in the country.

The 2012 season features 20 races between March 18 in Australia and the November 25 finale in Brazil.

In other FIA decisions, tams will have one opportunity during the season for testing after they were originally outlawed in 2009 in order to cut skyrocketing costs in times of global economic problems.

'One three-day test will be carried out during the season, formerly there were none,' FIA said.

In other regulations, the maximum race time was named at four hours to avoid long suspensions as this year in Canada, lapped cars will be allowed to unlap themselves in safety-car periods while drivers will be sanctions if they cut corners in reconnaissance and slow-down laps in order to save fuel and time. Technical changes include strictly regulated exhaust tailpipes.

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