The FIA World Touring Car Championship will visit Mexico and Japan next year if the provisional calendar unveiled in London today is approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council in December.
The venue for the Mexican round has not yet been named, but Japan’s Okayama International Circuit, which is about 200km north-east of Hiroshima, is in talks to host the first WTCC round to be held in the country. The provisional calendar also sees a change for the Portuguese round from Porto to Estoril, which hosted the FIA European Touring Car Cup last year.
The provisional 2008 dates were announced at the official press conference for this weekend’s British WTCC round at Brands Hatch, and double world champion, Andy Priaulx, gave his reaction to the new venues along with fellow British drivers James Thompson and Rob Huff.
2008 FIA WTCC PROVISIONAL CALENDAR
2 March Curitiba Brazil6 April TBA Mexico - NEW18 May Valencia Spain1 June Pau France15 June Brno Czech Republic6 July Estoril Portugal - NEW27 July Anderstorp Sweden31 August Oschersleben Germany21 September Brands Hatch UK5 October Monza Italy26 Oct / 2 Nov Okayama Japan - NEW16 November Macau China
Andy Priaulx, BMW
“I think it’s a great calendar. It’s brilliant to see Japan in there. The Far East is so important for the manufacturers and there’s a big touring car following out there. I’ve never been to Japan but BMW’s PR representative was there in 1994 for the F1. She tells me there’s some great hot springs right near the circuit, which is a definite bonus!
“I'm sure this expanded calendar is the result of more demand. The build up for this weekend has been much bigger and better than last year. There’s definitely more interest and that’s really good for the sport.”
James Thompson, N.Technology Alfa Romeo
“Estoril is a good track, especially for overtaking. It’s fast in places and has nice, wide, slow-speed stuff in others. In the European Touring Cars I had a great race with Jörg Müller a couple of years ago with Alfa Romeo.
“It's great to go to Japan; I love Japanese food, and I really like the people. They are always fantastically friently and polite. I was taken there by Honda when I drove for them to compete in the Suzuka support race in a Honda Civic and I saw my idol, Ayrton Senna, so it has a lot of happy memories for me.”
Rob Huff, Chevrolet
“I like to think I learn new circuits quickly but then everybody in World Touring Cars does! When I get to a new circuit I walk around for a few laps and try to find out as much information as possible.”
A one minute silence was held at the conference for Scottish rally driver, Colin McRae, who was killed in a helicopter accident on Saturday afternoon. Okayama International Circuit, JapanBuilt: 1992Length: 3.703kmLocation: Mimasaka in the Chugoku Region, located in the western part of Japan's main island Honshu, approximately 200km north east of HiroshimaHighlight: F1 Pacific GP, 1994 and 1995. Michael Schumacher won both races with BenettonWTCC round: 26 October / 2 November 2008Autódromo do Estoril, Portugal
Built: 1972Length: 4.182kmLocation: The beach resort of Estoril, close to capital city Lisbon Highlight: Home of the Portuguese GP from 1984 to 1996
Hosted the FIA European Touring Car Championship from 2001 to 2003 and the FIA European Touring Car Cup in 2006WTCC round: 6 July 2008
