2015 FIA WEC schedule released, Nurburgring added
The FIA World Endurance Championship will again feature an eight-round, traditional season calendar next year, although with one venue change and a reduction in the three-month summer gap.
The globe-trotting championship took the wraps off the 2015 schedule Friday evening in Fuji, confirming the addition of a new race at the Nurburgring in late August instead of a return to Interlagos, which plays host to this year's season finale.
According to FIA WEC CEO Gerard Neveu, a return to Brazil in 2015 was not possible due to construction of a new pit building, which is not scheduled to be completed until the F1 race in mid-November.
"We don't think going there for the last round is a good solution," Neveu said. "To have a long summer break is not a good one.
"We've taken into consideration the fact that the main partners of the paddock, the teams and the manufacturers, regarding the economical situation, have asked for stability with the number of races for next year.
"As we wanted to reduce the summer break, we had the opportunity to go to Nurburgring. For this reason, we decided not to go to Brazil next year. But the circuit will be available for us from 2016 and there's a big chance to see Brazil on the calendar."
The 2015 schedule will again kick off at Silverstone in April prior to the traditional trip to Spa-Francorchamps prior to the double-points paying 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 13-14.
Nurburgring will play host to the fourth round of the championship, prior to the Lone Star Le Mans event at Circuit of The Americas on Sept. 19 and return trips to Fuji, Shanghai and Bahrain.
Neveu said events in Montreal and Mexico City remain on a short list of potential additions for the future, although neither would likely be seen until 2017 at the earliest.
2015 FIA World Endurance Championship Schedule
March 27-28 -- Prologue Test at Paul Ricard
April 12 -- Silverstone
May 2 -- Spa-Francorchamps
May 31 -- Le Mans Test Day
June 13-14 -- 24 Hours of Le Mans
August 30 -- Nurburgring
September 19 -- Circuit of The Americas
October 11 -- Fuji Speedway
November 1 -- Shanghai
November 21 -- Bahrain