2012 WTCC calendar

Motor racing fans in the UK are going to be disappointed that the Brands Hatch event has been dropped from the World Touring Car Championship for 2012.

The season calendar, as agreed by the FIA World Motor Sports Council, also sees the disappearance of the Belgian, Czech and German rounds. But four races replace those that have been lost: for the first time, Austria, Argentina and the United States will get to host WTCC events, while the Moroccan meeting is reinstated.

2011 WTCC Drivers' Champion Yvan Muller.

A change to the technical regulations sees a full move to 1.6 litre turbo engines, although older 2.0 litre Super 2000 models and touring cars running in national championships may still be accepted. Their inclusion, which is a sensible tactic to try and boost grid sizes, will be approved on a race-by-race basis.

Regarding the events themselves, the distance of each round in 2012 is to be increased to between 50 and 60 kilometres (about 30 to 40 miles), and the system for calculating success ballast has been simplified.

2012 World Touring Car Championship
Date	Country	Circuit
11 March	Italy	Monza
01 April	Spain	Valencia Ricardo Tormo* / **
15 April	Morocco	Marrakech*
06 May	Hungary	Hungaroring
20 May	Austria	Salzburgring
03 June	Portugal	Estoril***
08 July	Argentina	TBA
22 July	Brazil	Curitiba
23 September	USA	Infineon Raceway*
21 October	Japan	Suzuka International
04 November	China	Shanghai International*
18 November	Macau	Guia Circuit
* Subject to ASN confirmation
** Subject to the homologation of the circuit
*** Subject to the contract with the promoter

Related post:
2011 WTCC calendar