2015 World Endurance Championship: Nurburgring in, Interlagos out

The German track has taken the place of Interlagos on what will remain as an eight-round championship, with a six-hour race on August 30.

Nurburgring, the only newcomer on the calendar, will celebrate the rich history of sportscar racing at the venue, according to WEC boss Gerard Neveu.

"We are delighted to visit the Nurburgring; it is a very specific event in endurance [racing]," he said.

Neveu explained that his first priority had been to reduce the three-month gap on this year's calendar between the Le Mans 24 Hours and the start of the second leg of the championship.

Brazil had been due to take place at the end of August this year, but had to be moved back three months because the Interlagos circuit was being resurfaced.

Further track works for next season, when new pits will be built, would have precluded a late-August or early-September date.

He said that it was "not a good solution" to return for a second season at the end of November .

Neveu insisted that the revisions to the calendar had not been driven only by Porsche and Audi, who are known to have pushed for a race in their home country.

"For the manufacturers, of course, it makes sense with Audi and Porsche," he explained.

"A race at the Nurburgring was not something we were thinking about just because Porsche has arrived.

"We have been thinking about it for three years, but before the circuit was not ready [because of its financial problems]."

Neveu stated that Brazil could return to the championship in 2016.

"There will be a good chance that we can see Brazil on the calendar for 2016," he said.

The decision to remain at eight races has been taken in consultation with the teams.

"The competitors asked for stability in the number of races," said Neveu, who did not rule out an increase for 2016.

He said that Montreal and an event in Russia were both possibilities for future seasons.

The calendar remains provisional until ratification by the FIA World Council.

2015 WEC CALENDAR

April 12 Silverstone (GB)
May 2 Spa (B)
June 13/14 Le Mans 24 Hours
August 30 Nurburging (D)
September 19 Austin (USA)
October 11 Fuji (J)
November 1 Shanghai (PRC)
November 21 Bahrain (BH)