FIA proceeds with 2008 rules

Formula One's governing body ignored a boycott by leading teams yesterday to set out a time-table for approval of the sport's 2008 technical regulations.

While carmakers are threatening to start up their own series from the end of 2007, the FIA said it would finalise a first draft of the rules for its championship by May 27.

The draft would then be circulated to the 'main stakeholders', including potential teams and current drivers, on July 1 subject to approval by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council on June 29.

No details were given about who was at the meeting in Paris. However, sources said champions Ferrari, newcomers Red Bull and Jordan were present along with Formula One commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Max Mosley.

The attendance of Red Bull and Jordan, both under new ownership this year, would be a clear split in the group of nine teams who have isolated Ferrari since last October in a row over testing and the sport's future.

Ferrari alone attended the last meeting called by the FIA in London in January.

"The line has really been drawn in the sand now," Minardi boss Paul Stoddart, who has taken on the role of unofficial co-ordinator of the nine teams, told Reuters.

"When you have five manufacturers and the two oldest established teams not going, that sends out a clear enough message."

Ferrari have joined the FIA and Ecclestone in agreeing an extension to 2012 of the sport's existing commercial agreement, which expires at the end of 2007.

Renault, BMW, Mercedes, Honda and Toyota met the nine teams last week, where they agreed not to go to Paris.