Dubai to blaze ETCC expansion trail

The 2004 FIA European Touring Car Championship will end with an event at the new Dubai Autodrome in a revised calendar announced on Friday by the World Motor Sport Council. The race on October 9 will be "in preparation for the expansion of the championship beyond European frontiers in 2005." The 2004 ETCC will again share 10 LG Super Racing Weekend promotions with the FIA GT series, but the GT teams will go on alone from Dubai to Zhuhai, China

Dec 12, 2003, 11:31 PM

Due for completion in March 2004, the Dubai Autodrome & Business Park is under development by the Union Properties company, and will include an FIA Grade 1 circuit with a lap length of 5.35km [Apr 28].

China's first International-standard circuit, Zhuhai hosted FIA-sanctioned 'Global GT' fixtures in 1996-97, but it last hosted a major race in 1999, just before the circuit operator was declared insolvent. It is now the subject of renewed investment by Malaysian property developer LBS Bina Group [Oct 30].

The Euro F3000 series also intends to include a round in Dubai next year, on October 17, the week after the LG Super Racing Weekend.

March 28, Monza (I)

April 18, Valencia (E)

May 2, Magny-Cours (F)

May 16, Hockenheim (D)

May 30, Brno (CZ)

June 27, Donington Park (GB)

Aug 1, Spa-Francorchamps (B)

Sept 5, Imola (I)

Sept 19, Oschersleben (D)

Oct 9, Dubai (UAE)

Nov 12, Zhuhai (CN)*

* FIA GT only