Provisional Calendar Unveiled

Imola, Portimão, Donington and most probably Losail join 9-Event List

GT Sport today has released the provisional calendar for the 2009 International GT Open, which includes up to nine two-race events and remains consistent with one of the basic principles of the series, which is to offer its participants, spectators and TV viewers only circuits and venues of the highest international standards.

For what will be the fourth season of the series which has become the reference platform in Europe for GT2 and GT3 racing, the International GT Open is introducing at least three new circuits: Imola (which has recently undergone a complete renewal), Portimão (the new state-of-the-art track in the Algarve) and Donington Park, the future F.1 home of Britain. A nine event, still to be definitely confirmed, is scheduled in Losail (Qatar), in what could be an exciting finale to the season and the series’ first outing outside Europe.

The International GT Open will continue to be the only international series, on top of F.1, holding an event in the Valencia Street Circuit, while the traditional stops in Spa-Francorchamps, Magny-Cours and Barcelona are kept. In selected event, the International GT Open will continue to pair with other major motoring events, such as the WTCC and the new F.2 Championship.

The 2009 provisional calendar, still subject to FIA approval, is as follows:

APRIL 17 – 19 AUTODROMO E & D. FERRARI, IMOLA (Italy)MAY 15 - 17 AUTÓDROMO INTERNACIONAL DO ALGARVE, PORTIMÃO (Portugal)JUNE 26 – 28 CIRCUIT DE SPA FRANCORCHAMPS (Belgium)JULY 3 – 5 DONINGTON PARK CIRCUIT (England)AUGUST 28 – 30 VALENCIA STREET CIRCUIT (Spain)SEPTEMBER 18 – 20 CIRCUIT DE NEVERS MAGNY-COURS (France)OCTOBER 2 – 4 AUTODROMO NAZIONALE DI MONZA (Italy)OCTOBER 23 – 25 CIRCUIT DE CATALUNYA, MONTMELÓ (Spain)NOVEMBER 21-22 or 28-29 LOSAIL INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT (Qatar) *TBC