GT1 heads for China in 2011

As predicted by this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, the series will race at the new Ordos circuit in China on 4 September next year. GT1 is also expected to visit the Beijing street track that was, like Ordos, recently used by Superleague Formula, although this might not be a full championship round as the venue has not received an FIA track licence yet.

Series boss Stephane Ratel told AUTOSPORT magazine: "We will be going to China, because it is such an important market. If we cannot have the two races, we will have one and a demonstration in Beijing."

The GT1 series' Brazilian round will switch from this year's venue Interlagos to Curitiba - swapping with the World Touring Car Championship, which replaces Curitiba with Interlagos for 2011.

The Brno and Nurburgring events have been dropped, while GT1's Belgian visit moves from its usual home on the Spa 24 Hours bill to a standalone event at Zolder in April. The German round is set to move to the Sachsenring on 15 May, subject to final approval from the governing body.

The championship will again open with races at Abu Dhabi Formula 1 venue Yas Marina, and conclude at the dramatic San Luis track in Argentina.

The affiliated GT3 series' visit to the new Smolensk Ring in Russia, potentially as a precursor to GT1 using the venue in 2012, was also ratified by the FIA.

Rnd  Date         Venue
 1.  27 March     Abu Dhabi
 2.  10 April     Zolder
 3.  8 May        Algarve
 4.  5 June       Silverstone
 5.  3 July       Navarra
 6.  17 July      Paul Ricard
 7.  4 September  Ordos
 8.  23 October   Curitiba
 9.  6 November   San Luis