FIA GT1 World Championship announces 2012 calendar with Russia and Zandvoort added

Abu Dhabi, the Sachsenring, Silverstone and Paul Ricard have lost their places on the schedule, with the French round moving to Nogaro and becoming the season opener.

Zandvoort gets a date for the first time, while the series keeps its Chinese double-header, and hopes that the Beijing round can become a street race next year. A 10th event remains subject to confirmation, and the season finale again takes place at Argentina's San Luis track.

Series boss Stephane Ratel hopes the calendar, the move to GT3 regulations, and the presence of the GT3 European Championship on several joint bills, will give the world championship a firm footing for 2012.

"The 2012 calendar is very exciting and, with six dates being joint GT1 and GT3 events, it will provide everyone - teams, drivers, sponsors and race fans - with a great weekend of GT racing," said Ratel.

"The mix of European and overseas events is the right balance and I'm very pleased that we will be going to Moscow next year, which, like China, is a very important market. It will mark another first for SRO and the FIA GT Championships."

2012 GT1 World Championship schedule:

Date            Nation/Venue
8th April       FRA  Nogaro
22nd April      BEL  Zolder***
27th May        ESP  Navarra
8th July        PRT  Algarve
26th August     CHN  Beijing **
2nd September   CHN  Ordos **
16th September  RUS  Moscow *
7th October     NLD  Zandvoort
25th November   ARG  San Luis *
TBA             TBA  TBA

* Subject to ASN confirmation/circuit homologation
** Subject to ASN confirmation/promoter contract
*** Subject to the homologation of the circuit