The V8 Supercars will race 16 championship events in 2012, the most on record, and organisers have promised more in following years.
Next year's calendar will feature an international race in November when V8 Supercars race alongside Formula One in Abu Dhabi, as they do at the Australian Grand Prixin Melbourne each year. Shifting the Abu Dhabi Championship races to November means the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide reclaims its place as the season opener, also shortening the season by roughly a month.
Another feature of the season is the Bathurst 1000, which celebrates its 50th year in 2012. The iconic Australian race was first run in 1963 as the Armstrong 500 at Phillip Island.
V8 Supercars chairman Tony Cochrane said the changes to the calendar were part of the long-term strategy of adding more international events, as well as compacting the season over time to provide more regular and frequent events.
"In 2013 we already have a confirmed race in Austin, Texas, which will blow the socks off our big North American fanbase with at least three other potential overseas races on the cards,'' Mr Cochrane said. "It's vital we begin planning for these possible additional races now when we piece together the dates not just for next year but also many years to come.''
Mr Cochrane said the ultimate goal was to stage 18 events each year over 40 weeks.
The 2012 V8 Supercars championship: March 1-4: Clipsal 500 Adelaide March 15-18: Australian Grand Prix Albert Park, Melbourne (NC) March 30-April 1: Tasmanian Challenge Symmons Plains, Launceston April 20-22: ITM400 Hamilton, New Zealand May 4-6: Trading Post Challenge Barbagallo, Perth May 18-20: Phillip Island Phillip Island, Victoria June 15-17: SKYCITY Triple Crown Hidden Valley, Darwin July 6-8: Sucrogen Townsville 400 Reid Park, Townsville August 3-5: Coates Hire Ipswich 300 Queensland Raceway, Ipswich August 24-26: Winton Winton, Victoria September 14-16: Sandown 500 Sandown, Victoria October 4-7: Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 Bathurst, New South Wales October 19-21: Armor All Gold Coast 600 Gold Coast, Queensland November 2-4: Yas V8 400 Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi November 9-11: TBA TBA November 30-Dec 2: Sydney Telstra 500 Olympic Park, Sydney
The 2012 Fujitsu V8 Supercars series: March 1-4: Clipsal 500 Adelaide May 4-6: Trading Post Challenge Barbagallo, Perth July 6-8: Sucrogen Townsville 400 Reid Park, Townsville August 3-5: Coates Hire Ipswich 300 Queensland Raceway, Ipswich August 24-26: Winton Winton, Victoria October 4-7: Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 Bathurst, New South Wales November 30-Dec 2: Sydney Telstra 500 Olympic Park, Sydney
