As part of IFMAR all those years ago, it wasn't the manufacturers. They can lobby their National Associations by all means, but the reality is that the Rule decisions are taken by the Blocs, and there were then no manufacturer members of IFMAR.
The Rule reflects the fact that it is really only EFRA, and in majority the UK, that runs on non-dirt tracks. The USA is almost exclusively dirt, and most of the Far East (FEMCA) bloc too. There have been some pretty poor dirt tracks in the past (Detroit '91 springs to mind) so it isn't all plain sailing just because it is dirt.
One thing that was asked then, and would have to be asked now - would one of our grass or Astroturf tracks hold up throughout seven days of constant racing? AFAIK, it's never been tried. Seven days of the fastest, most powerful cars driven flat out by some of the best drivers in the World is a whole different ball game to a 2-day National. Where we have tried putting on an EFRA GP on grass in the past (Eden Park and Stafford) the track was like a ploughed field after just three days racing.
Hope that helps understand the issues, and I also hope that one day the WC will return to the UK - both Romsey '87 and Basildon '93 were on dirt tracks - and if it does, someone can put me down to do something in the organisation. I've been Race Director at three WCs and two ECs, and had a ball doing both! But first you'll need a dirt track...
