New Provisional Five-Round Calendar Announced

Photo: SRO

SRO Motorsports Group has released an updated provisional calendar for GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS, with a view to getting started in July.

It includes five rounds, with two in Japan, two in China and one in Malaysia. Two events will have three races in order to make up for the remaining races from the initially planned sixth round.

The new season-opener is now set to be the recently-added event at Autopolis on July 11-12. The Japanese track was added to the schedule in March when the first wave of changes were made on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will be followed by another Japanese race at Fuji Speedway either on July 25-26 or Aug. 1-2, moving from its previous late-May date.

Suzuka, meanwhile, has been dropped off the calendar, owning to the circuit’s existing commitments during the second half of the year.

The Chinese double-header is still in place, with two visits to Shanghai International Circuit planned for Sept. 12-13 and Oct. 17-18. The latter will be a single three-hour endurance race.

Sepang will host the new season finale on Dec. 5-6, allowing cars to stay on-site until the Malaysian circuit returns to hosting the season-opener in 2021.

“I am delighted that we’ve been able to reschedule Sepang, a very popular venue amongst our teams and drivers, and one that also accounts for some logistical considerations as many teams have workshops there,” said championship co-director Benjamin Franassovici.

“It’s a sensible choice for everyone and also a perfect opportunity for some exciting new support series to join GT World Challenge Asia.

“Elsewhere, we have worked very hard with our partners at Mobilityland to find a mutually beneficial new date, but a combination of their packed schedule, the complications caused by coronavirus and our logistics means there is sadly no opportunity for GT World Challenge Asia to visit Suzuka this year.

“The postponement of Tokyo’s Olympic Games has opened up a few opportunities to visit Fuji later in the year, although this will depend on Japan’s coronavirus response and any restrictions that might be in place.

“Dates in late July and early August have been secured, while there are other options elsewhere in Asia if necessary.”

The Suzuka 10 Hours, which is now the next round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli following the postponement of the Total 24 Hours of Spa, is still scheduled to go ahead unchanged on Aug. 21-23.

2020 GT World Challenge Asia Schedule (Provisional):
July 11-12 – Autopolis
July 25-26 or Aug. 1-2 – Fuji Speedway
Sept. 12-13 – Shanghai
Oct. 17-18 – Shanghai 888
Dec. 5-6 – Sepang

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.