20-race 2011 draft calendar leaked in Hungary

An unofficial draft calendar for the 2011 season emerged in the paddock during the Hungarian grand prix weekend.

The leaked schedule, published in German by ‘sport1’, features an unprecedented 20 races, beginning in Bahrain on 13 March and ending with a 13 November finale in Abu Dhabi.

The extra race is the inaugural Indian grand prix, provisionally scheduled for 9 October.

Korea’s second race is reportedly scheduled to take place in late April, instead of October as in 2010, and will be held just seven days after the Chinese grand prix.

After South Korea, there is a three-week break until Barcelona.

But like China-Korea, Australia (27 March) and the subsequent Malaysian grand prix are scheduled back-to-back, as are Germany and Hungary in late July and Belgium-Valencia in late August.

It means this year’s four-week summer break in August has been reduced to just three weeks in 2011.

And the flyaway Japan-Brazil double-header in late October will be a real logistical challenge.

© RIF | GMM