FIA Approves A1 GP Calendar for 2009/10

Tony Teixeira, A1 GP CEO

Yesterday's meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council was surely a busy one, as the ruling body has announced several directions for the 2010 season of most motor sport series currently under its patronage. After confirming several changes within the Formula One, WRC or FIA WTCC championships, the FIA also published the calendar for the 5th running edition of the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport.

As each of the FIA press release contained at least one novelty, the A1 GP series was not to make an exception from that rule. The 2009/10 season will get under way on October 22 through 25, in Australia. Surfers Paradise will therefore make its official debut in the series, while joined by Dutch circuit Assen on May 14th through 16th 2009.

“We are in a totally different position to most series as we straddle two calendar years. This makes announcing a calendar with all its dates and venues more challenging. However, we are well advanced with all our Season Five contracts, and for those we have yet to make public have plans to announce them with events in the specific countries,” series chairman Tony Teixeira announced in a press release.

“Our plans include some very exciting new venues that I can assure the teams and the fans will be very popular. While at the moment we have submitted a ten race calendar, I am hopeful of adding one or two more dates in the coming months,” added the Portuguese official in the press release.

“It is fantastic to be the first event of the 2009/2010 A1GP season, and everyone here is looking forward to hosting the World Cup of Motorsport on the Gold Coast,” concluded Nitro SuperGP (official designation of the Surfers Paradise race) General Manager Greg Hooton.