2008: The provisional calendar published; Las Vegas out of the running

The leaders of the Champcar World Series unveiled the 2008 season schedule yesterday. Announced as provisional, this program, with certain circuits still to be approved, remains obviously very close to the official calendar to be presented in a few weeks.

With few apparent changes, the 2008 calendar nevertheless includes a few surprises. Indeed, firstly, the race that the drivers enjoyed so much this season in Las Vegas has been simply removed from the provisional calendar and will be replaced by a European race in Jerez, Spain.

Jerez, after making some improvements to its circuit in 2005, is back to hosting a major championship as Formula 1 hasn’t set foot there since 1997. For this third European round of the season, Jerez will be scheduled after Zolder, in the Netherlands.

Another surprise in the program; Portland, a circuit rumored to be at risk, retains its place on the 2008 calendar, despite being moved a little later in the year to July.

In the absence of Las Vegas, the urban race that opened the 2007 season, it is therefore Long Beach that takes the reins of the championship as the opening weekend.

On the quantity side, there will only be one more race in 2008, according to forecasts, than this season thanks to the arrival of Jerez.

Here is the provisional 2008 calendar