Le Mans expands Intercontinental Cup

The new worldwide championship will start as part of Le Mans Series finale the AUTOSPORT 1000kms at Silverstone on 10-12 September, and will encompass the American Le Mans Series' 1000-mile Petit Le Mans three weeks later, before concluding with a new 1000km race at Zhuhai in China on 7 November.

The 2011 calendar then sees the Le Mans 24 Hours itself become part of a series for the first time since the demise of the World Sportscar Championship in 1992. Le Mans will count for double points as it joins the ILMC schedule next year.

The Sebring 12 Hours and LMS round the Spa 1000kms are also added, while Silverstone and Petit are retained.

The series then moves to Asia for its last two rounds, with a 1000km race at Fuji in October and provisionally a six-hour event at Zhuhai.

ACO general manager Remy Brouard was particularly pleased that China would be part of the championship.

"Our aim was to have a race in China, as it's a very important country and we wanted to visualise a new set of spectators," he said. "We want to continue our development in Asia and it will be the crowning race of our season."

2010 Calendar:

10-11-12 September:      Silverstone 1000kms
29 September-2 October:  Petit Le Mans (1,000 miles), Road Atlanta
5-6-7 November:          Zhuhai 1000kms

Provisional 2011 calendar:

March:         Sebring 12 hours
May:           Spa 1000 kms
June 11/12:    Le Mans 24 hours (double points)
September:     Silverstone 1000kms
Sept/Oct:      Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta
End of Oct:    Fuji 1000kms
Mid-November:  Zhuhai 6 hours?