Euro Series overhauls race weekends

Currently, the series' weekends consist of two races, the second one with the top eight drivers from the first race starting in reverse order.

From next year, however, the format has been changed.

Two pre-event tests of 60 minutes each will be followed by 30 minutes of qualifying on Fridays. The starting order of Saturday's 40-minute race will be based on the second-fastest lap times achieved by each driver in qualifying.

Later, a second race of 20 minutes will follow. The starting grid for this race will be based on the race result of the first race, with reversed grid positions for the first eight drivers.

The third race of the weekend will be held on Sunday, with the actual qualifying result from Friday determining the grid.

Organisers have also revealed a provisional calendar for 2011, with nine out of ten tracks already determined.

The first three drivers in the championship will get a Formula Renault 3.5 test drive, while the most successful rookie will get 50,000 Euros for his second season in the series.

The two best-placed Mercedes-Benz drivers and the two best-placed Volkswagen drivers will get a DTM test with an Audi or a Mercedes-Benz respectively.

Provisional 2011 calendar

April 1st-3rd       Le Castellet/F*
April 29th-May 1st  Hockenheim/D**
May 13th-15th       Zandvoort/NL**
June 3rd-5th        Spielberg/A**
July 1st-3rd        Norisring/D**
August 5th-7th      Nürburgring/D**
September 9th-11th  Silverstone/GB*
Sept. 30th-Oct.2nd  Valencia/E**
October 21st-23rd   Hockenheim/D**

* supporting the Le Mans Series
** supporting the DTM
*** negotiations with an additional tenth venue are ongoing