10-date calendar for World GT1 in 2011

China is the headline addition to next season’s FIA GT1 World Championship, after the calendar was released by SRO today.

The 10-date schedule sees the championship take in the brand-new Ordos International Circuit – first used by Superleague Formula earlier this season – in inner Mongolia next September.

Other additions include a first visit to Zolder in Belgium and Curitiba, which replaces Interlagos as Brazil’s event. Germany’s Sachsenring should also feature but remains subject to ASN confirmation at this stage.

As in 2010, next year’s championship will begin at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi and conclude around the picturesque shores of San Luis in Argentina after also visiting Portimao, Silverstone, Navarra and Paul Ricard.

Stephane Ratel, CEO of the SRO Motorsports Group, explained that adding a Chinese round was another step towards the world championship one day racing on every continent.

“This year saw the FIA GT1 World Championship become a reality and 2011 will see us build on the solid foundations we laid this season by adding a race in Asia alongside the ones in Europe, South America and the Middle East,” he said. “China is a very important market for luxury and sportscar manufacturers and another step in our long term strategy that will eventually see GT1 World Championship race on every continent.” 

Rumours that a second Chinese race, most likely in Beijing, would appear on the calendar have failed to materialise.
  
2011 FIA GT1 World Championship
26th March / UAE / Abu Dhabi
10th April / Belgium / Zolder
8th May / Portugal / Algarve
15th May* / Germany* / Sachsenring*
5th June / Great Britain / Silverstone
3rd July / Spain / Navarra
17th July / France / Paul Ricard
4th September / China / Ordos
23rd October / Brazil / Curitiba
6th November / Argentina / San Luis

*subject to ASN confirmation

Tom Hornsby