Superleague Formula will visit a host of new countries and venues in 2010 as part of an expanded calendar. Despite a number of changes to the provisional schedule revealed back in October, the football-themed championships calendar does still feature a dozen dates.
Indeed, next seasons fixtures represent a 100% increase compared to 2009 in line with the series four year plan set out before the very first Superleague Formula race in 2008. For the first time, three countries welcome multiple races with Britain, Spain and Germany hosting two each. In addition, the series welcomes at least six new circuits to the schedule.
The season kicks off at a new-to-Superleague venue, Silverstone, on April 3/4 in what is the first of two UK rounds scheduled, while the expanded calendar means that the championship will start nearly three months earlier than in 2009.
Another exciting new circuit Assen – lies in wait for the teams and drivers in May, before moving on to 2009s season curtain raiser Frances former F1 venue Magny-Cours, the following weekend.
Spains Jarama is next up three weeks later before the series travels north-east for a Germanic double-header, firstly to the historic Nurburgring before moving on to Oschersleben, the first of three rounds in what promises to be a busy July.
Its then on to Zolder, back for a third straight year, on the 17/18 before Brands Hatch replaces Donington Park at the end of the month. A well-deserved month-long break is followed up with a trip to Adria in Italy on September 4/5 with Estorils date moved back two weeks to the 18/19.
Monza retains its place in the first week of October ahead of a venue returning to the calendar Jerez which will stage the penultimate round on November 13/14. An as-yet unnamed circuit will then play host to the Superleague Formula season finale.
Superleague Formula Competition´s Director Robin Webb, said: Although weve had to make some changes in the last few weeks, Im extremely happy with the new schedule. Theres a great mix of circuits with some existing and ex-F1 venues supplemented by regional tracks which are ideal given their location. Jaramas proximity to Madrid for instance allowed local Atletico fans the chance to come along and support their team this year, a factor which helped attract 30,000 people. With more established drivers also taking an interest in Superleague, Im confident that 2010 will prove a vintage season.
We are still looking at one or two non-European rounds at the end of the year. We are getting offers from outside of Europe, and our two major targets are the Middle East and South America.
We already have football clubs on board, but we are open to people approaching us with a new club.
Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision, added: Im delighted that Brands Hatch will host Superleague Formula next season, and its fantastic to add another prestigious single seater series to the calendar alongside the FIA Formula Two Championship. The Superleague cars are even more powerful than the A1GP cars and with their V12 engines sound absolutely amazing. They are impressively big cars too so with the reverse grids it will be a fabulous spectacle for fans of motorsport and football alike.
Philippe Guillaume, board member of the Magny-Cours Circuit, said: I congratulate Superleague Formula for the excellent progress made in developing this original, fan friendly discipline which has now consolidated its position in the international motorsport market. The French round on 22-23 May at Magny-Cours, which last year was the only French circuit to express an interest in the formula, has been made, taking into account our requirements. I would like to thank the organization for having taken into account our two wishes to have the French race on a date close to the end of the French Ligue 1 championship and before of the World Cup in South Africa.
Superleague Formula Calendar 2010:
Apr 3/4 Silverstone UK
May 15/16 Assen Holland
May 22/23 Magny-Cours France
Jun 19/20 Jarama Spain
Jun 26/27 Nurburgring Germany
Jul 3/4 Oschersleben Germany
Jul 17/18 Zolder Belgium
Jul 31/Aug 1 Brands Hatch UK
Sep 18/19 Estoril Portugal
Oct 2/3 Monza Italy
Nov 13/14 Jerez Spain
TBC TBC TBC
Please note: You can visit Superleague Formulas stand (no.2400) at this weekends Autosport International exhibition in Birmingham January 14-17.