Several big (albeit anticipated) changes were made to the Formula One calendar for 2008, which was released by the FIA yesterday.
The F1 circus will make two new stops at the new circuit in Singapore and at the Valencia track in Spain, previously used primarily for testing. Singapore will slot in right before the grands prix in China and Japan, and most teams are expected to stay out east for the three-week stretch. Valencia joins Barcelona as the second race in Spain, banking on Fernando Alonso's popularity and following the cuts made to second races in Italy and Germany for this year. The race at the Nurburgring will be labeled the German Grand Prix, while Valencia will pick up the European Grand Prix moniker.
Follow the jump for details about North America and the full provisional 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar.
[Source: GrandPrix.com]
As we already know, there won't be a race in the United States in 2008 as Indianapolis has been cut from the calendar. This could mean trouble for the Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, as previously transportation costs were spread across the two North American events. We wouldn't think that'd be a major obstacle for several reasons: a) the Canadian Grand Prix existed for many years without a race in the US, b) many American fans could be expected to head up to Montreal for the action in the absence of a home race, and c) Brazil and Australia have unique races on their respective continents and have for years.
The calendar as proposed is as follows:
Australia (March 16),
Malaysia (March 23)
Bahrain (April 6)
Barcelona (April 27)
Turkey (May 11)
Monaco (May 25)
Canada (June 8)
France (June 22)
Britain (July 6)
Germany (July 20)
Hungary (August 3)
Valencia (August 24)
Italy (September 7)
Belgium (September 14)
Singapore (September 28)
China (October 12)
Japan (October 19)
Brazil (November 2)
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