New venues on A1GP calendar

Indonesia hosted races at the Sentul circuit in the first two seasons of A1GP, but a new street circuit will be developed in the capital city for the third event of the season in November.

The 2.9-mile Algarve circuit, near Poritmao, is due to be completed in October and will open with the final round of the World Superbike Championship on November 2. It will host the penultimate round of the 2008/9 A1GP season on April 12.

They are the second and third new circuits on next season's 11-date calendar, after Mugello was announced as the opening round of the season last month.

Brno in the Czech Republic and Eastern Creek, Australia have both been dropped from the calendar for next season. Eastern Creek has hosted a race in each of the three A1GP seasons so far, while the series has visited Brno for the last two years.

China is set to hold just one round of the series next season, with both Shanghai and Zhuhai in the running for the December slot. No country has yet been confirmed for the date in March which was A1GP's second visit to China this year.

Although both the British and South African rounds are on the calendar, the venue for each is yet to be confirmed. The Durban street race is not traditionally confirmed until closer to the event, but there is a possibility that the British race will move away from Brands Hatch.

The official pre-season tests will take place at Silverstone on August 18-20 and Mugello on the Wednesday and Thursday before the opening races of the season on September 21.

The 2008/09 calendar (subject to FIA approval):

Date           Venue        Country
September 21   Mugello      Italy
October 5      Zandvoort    Netherlands
November 9     Jakarta      Indonesia
November 23    Sepang       Malaysia
December 14    TBA          China
January 25     Taupo        New Zealand
February 22    TBA          South Africa
March 15       Mexico City  Mexico
March 29       TBA          TBA
April 12       Algarve      Portugal
May 3          TBA          Great Britain