A new event in China and a change of venue for the Brazilian round are the main alterations to the GT1 World Championship schedule for 2011, the FIA confirmed today.
The series will race at the new Ordos circuit in China on Sept. 4. GT1 is also expected to visit the Beijing street track that was, like Ordos, recently used by Superleague Formula, although this might not be a full championship round as the venue has not received an FIA track license yet.
Series boss Stephane Ratel told AUTOSPORT: "We will be going to China, because it is such an important market. If we cannot have the two races, we will have one and a demonstration in Beijing."
The GT1 series' Brazilian round will switch from this year's venue Interlagos to Curitiba – swapping with the World Touring Car Championship, which replaces Curitiba with Interlagos for 2011. The Brno and Nurburgring events have been dropped, while GT1's Belgian visit moves from its usual home on the Spa 24 Hours bill to a stand-alone event at Zolder in April. The championship will again open with races at Abu Dhabi Formula 1 venue Yas Marina, and conclude at the dramatic San Luis track in Argentina.
The affiliated GT3 series' visit to the new Smolensk Ring in Russia, potentially as a precursor to GT1 using the venue in 2012, was also ratified by the FIA.
2011 GT1 World Championship
Rnd Date Venue
1. March 27 Abu Dhabi
2. April 10 Zolder
3. May 8 Algarve
4. June 5 Silverstone
5. July 3 Navarra
6. July 17 Paul Ricard
7. Sept. 4 Ordos
8. Oct. 23 Curitiba
9. Nov. 6 San Luis