Instead of the usual 5 years lifespan of an FIA-approved harness, we are now allowed a full 10 years for non-international events.

http://www.cams.com.au/content.asp?PageID=Article&ObjectID=1261

 

Even though most racers will change them more often because of cosmetics, it means we now can unload them to the HPDE crowd in all safety...

As far as I can tell, that ruling only applies to my extensive schedule in Australia, not counting my international events such as the F1 Australia. I don't think this affects my European, North American, Asian, South American, or most especially Greenland schedules.

Seems to me like there is a bright side here. When our 5 year old FIA-approved harnesses expire here in the states, we can sell them on E-Bay to all of those HPDE students and/or racers in Australia! Would be nice if this is a trend that leads to this 5 year extension hear in the good ole US of A!

The material that makes a harness pass FIA approval is most likely the same, wether it is used in Australia, in the US or Canada. Therefore if FIA approves them for 10 years in Australia, they will have a hard time defending why it shouldn't be approved the same way in Canada or any other country.

The Porsche Club here has been debating enforcing the 5 year limit on harnesses used in driving schools as well. So people will either need to upgrade to a new harness or go back to using the 30 year old factory seat belts... Hmmm...