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F1: Teams consider single in-season test for 2012

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

F1 teams are close to agreeing to a single in-season circuit test for 2012.

FIA president Jean Todt recently denounced the current total ban as "stupid", preceding a meeting of the teams alliance FOTA at the Nurburgring at the weekend.

France's Autohebdo.fr reports that the proposal to emerge from the meeting is for a single three-day test before next year's European race season, to probably take place at Mugello.

The report said the test could be in addition to a third practice session at European grands prix in 2012.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport added that, to assuage the reluctance of some smaller-budget teams, the in-season Mugello test would be in lieu of three days of the pre-season winter schedule.

The report said the date of the test, which cannot be finalised now because the 2012 calendar remains provisional, would be during a three-week break prior to the first European race. It is also believed that teams will not be forced to run young drivers at Mugello.

"There are pros and cons of testing during the season," FOTA chairman and McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is quoted as saying by Auto Motor und Sport.

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
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