Asian Motor Sports

The latest revision to the Formula One calendar for 2009 sees the Chinese Grand Prix moved to the third race of the season.

The race in Shanghai has traditionally been held towards the end of a campaign since it made its debut in 2004, but following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris a number of revisions have been made.

The season-opening Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix will both now start at 1700 local time to accommodate European television audiences.

With the race in China taking up the slot previously occupied by the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 19, the latter is put back a week to April 26.

Brazil now takes up China’s date on October 18, with the season ending in Abu Dhabi on November 1, rather than the 15th of that month.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Grand Prix remains off the list but with a four-week hiatus following the Hungarian GP, it may yet enjoy reinstatement with talks on-going.

Revised calendar:

Mar 29: Australia
Apr 5: Malaysia
Apr 19: China
Apr 26: Bahrain
May 10: Spain
May 24: Monaco
Jun 7: Turkey
Jun 21: Great Britain
Jul 7: Germany
Jul 26: Hungary
Aug 23: Europe (Valencia)
Aug 30: Belgium
Sep 13: Italy
Sep 27: Singapore
Oct 4: Japan
Oct 18: Brazil
Nov 1: Abu Dhabi