FIA GT1 Championship goes global for 2010
2009 FIA GT Championship at Silverstone - Click above for a high-res image gallery
After a meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council earlier this month, the FIA GT Championship has announced the expansion of the racing series for next year that includes more races and international locations. The 2010 schedule features four additional races and venues on five different continents, making the battle for the GT1 title a true world championship. United Arab Emirates, South Africa, China, Brazil, and Canada will all host races along withtraditional locations like Silverstone, Paul Ricard, Brno, and Spa.
In addition to the new schedule, the racing series also announced a change in direction for the GT1 category that will now focus more on privateer teams to encourage competition and reduce costs. The GT2 and GT3 classes will remain European-only series with an emphasis on semi-pro or amateur drivers and teams. Follow the jump for the full 2010 FIA GT schedule.
Gallery: FIA GT Silverstone 2009
[Source: FIA GT]
2010 FIA GT1 World Championship
4/4 UAE Yas Marina**
18/4 ZA South Africa*
2/5 GB Silverstone Supercar 2010
16/5 CZ Brno
30/5 F Paul Ricard
4/7 CDN Canada*
1/8 B Total 24H of Spa-Francorchamps*
29/8 D Nürburgring
12/9 P Circuito Algarve
3/10 H Budapest*
14/11 CN China*
28/11 BR Brazil*
*Subject to the ASN's confirmation
**Subject to the homologation of the circuit.
2010 FIA GT2 European Championship
2/5 GB Silverstone Supercar 2010
16/5 CZ Brno
30/5 F Paul Ricard
20/6 D Oschersleben
1/8 B Total 24H of Spa-Francorchamps
29/8 D Nürburgring
12/9 P Circuito Algarve
3/10 H Budapest*
17/10 B Zolder
*Subject to the ASN's confirmation
2010 FIA GT3 European Championship
2/5 GB Silverstone Supercar 2010
16/5 CZ Brno
30/5 F Paul Ricard
20/6 D Oschersleben
12/9 P Circuito Algarve
3/10 H Budapest*
*Subject to the ASN's confirmation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nicolas 6:27PM (10/30/2009)
Where in Canada? Mosport, Tremblant, Gilles Villeneuve?
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Bert 7:14PM (10/30/2009)
I am thinking more Mosport, since they run ALMS and other 'top-tier' series. Montreal might get it, if only to ensure that there are 2 races at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Tremblant would be great, but I don`t think the facilities are up to the task. Road access is poor, facilities (bathrooms) are poor. But it is a fantastic track and if you have a chance to go an see a weekend of vintage or Ferrari racing it is more than worth it.
The City of Montreal will only allow 2 races at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Previously the track was exclusively reserved for F1. Now that The Circus has skipped a year and is looking to skip another year, the race-organizers may be looking for a race just to act as a place holder, to ensure that they don't loose the second weekend of racing. I, for one would go see and FIA GT rather than watching a snore-fest NASCAR race. (The last NASCAR race was won at an average of 55 MPH / 88 KPH!)
dougjp 7:23PM (10/30/2009)
April 7th at any of those venues.....what type of tires? :)
vik 6:35PM (10/30/2009)
This is fantastic. I enjoy this series more than F1 and if they could also get it to the U.S (somewhere like Laguna Seca), in addition to the other venues, it would be great.
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JD 6:56PM (10/30/2009)
No US venue? O well.
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The Hit 3:42PM (11/01/2009)
This despite featuring cars like the Corvette, Saleen and GT40...stupid
Dr. Nick 7:06PM (10/30/2009)
They hate America. Or maybe they just realize that they would get run over by the juggernaut that is ALMS. *snort* *giggle*
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Commander Cool 7:46PM (10/30/2009)
All kidding aside, there is no need for them to compete for ratings with ALMS. Thanks to the marketing genius of the clods at NASCAR any other motorsport is now considered a fringe sport and doesn't get the necessary airtime to support two very similar series races.
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JET240Z 2:45AM (10/31/2009)
Man I hate Nascar... it sucks up all the airtime that could be dedicated to forms of motorsports that actually increase their technology and push the industry forward. Plus NASCAR is mostly boring as snot. And the car is one giant sticker. My rant is done :)
Mark 8:40PM (10/30/2009)
dougjp - you've got the date reversed. July 4, not April 7. Unless of course the race in France occurs in the 30th month of the year and Spa is in January?
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monet 6:48AM (10/31/2009)
I enjoy watching ALMS and F1, but cannot seem to find this series airing in the USA. I have Comcast (Chicago). Anyone know what network airs these?
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JET240Z 11:13AM (10/31/2009)
They air on Speed Channel normally. Sometimes Amercian Le Mans Series make to ABC or such, but normally its Speed Channel or nothing.
ddrhero 1:54PM (10/31/2009)
Typical FIA. "As long as it isn't in the states"
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