World Rallycross Championship announces 12-event 2016 calendar

The new event in Riga, Latvia, is the only addition to the calendar, and will take place in early October, effectively replacing the Turkish round of the championship at Istanbul.

Italy's round at Franciacorta has also been dropped, resulting in a 12-event schedule.

As per recent seasons, Montalegre in Portugal will host the opening round in mid-April, before the championship again joins the DTM at Hockenheim for its first German round of the year.

The other German round at Estering moves from June to October to become the penultimate round.

Moving the other way, the Norwegian event at Hell comes forward two months, from August to June.

The series has also announced an extension to Holjes' presence on the calendar, through to at least 2018.

It retains a July date, ensuring Sweden remains the only country to have held a round of the European and now World Rallycross championship since its inception in 1973.

The European Rallycross Championship will again run alongside five World RX events in 2016 - Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Spain and Latvia - while the Super1600, TouringCar and RX Lites support categories will be spread through the year.

Super1600 will be run over six rounds, TouringCar remains at five events and the RX Lites dates are yet to be announced, but are expected to follow a similar schedule to 2015.

The calendar is subject to confirmation by the FIA World Motor Sport Council in December.

2016 WORLD RALLYCROSS CALENDAR
April 16-17 Montalegre, Portugal
May 7-8 Hockenheim, Germany
May 14-15 Mettet, Belgium
May 28-29 Lydden Hill, Great Britain
June 11-12 Hell, Norway
July 2-3 Holjes Sweden
August 6-7 Trois-Rivieres, Canada
September 3-4 Loheac, France
September 17-18 Barcelona, Spain
October 1-2 Riga, Latvia
October 15-16 Estering, Germany
November 26-27 Rosario, Argentina