Motor Racing: Formula One teams agree to cut speed

FORMULA ONE manufacturers yesterday agreed on a new proposal for engine technical regulations intended to reduce speed and improve grand prix racing safety.

The proposal, which comes almost three weeks after the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at Imola, was sent to Max Mosley, the president of the sport's world governing body, FIA, after discussions at Maranello, the Ferrari headquarters.

A spokesman for Ferrari said he could not disclose details of the proposal, which was agreed on by representatives of Ferrari, Ford, Hart, Mercedes, Mugen Honda, Peugeot, Renault and Yamaha. It was understood, however, that changes in engine regulations were intended to reduce the speed of F1 cars.

The chances of David Coulthard, the Williams test driver, making his Formula One debut for the team in the Spanish Grand Prix on 29 May appear to have improved with the announcement that he alone will join Damon Hill in a four-day test starting at Jerez today.

Louis Tobback, the Belgian Interior Minister, said he would ban the Belgian Grand Prix, at Spa-Francorchamps on 28 August, if safety was not improved at the circuit.