Slovakiaring replaces Argentina on WTCC calendar

The Slovakiaring will now hold the fourth round of this year’s FIA World Touring Car Championship, taking Argentina’s slot in the calendar.

The event will be held earlier in the season than Argentina’s provisional date in July, just one week before the round at Budapest in neighbouring Hungary.

“We have been forced to make this change because of the delays in defining the details of the agreement with the local Government,” said WTCC promoter Marcello Lotti. “Time went by and we could not go further and take the risk of a last minute cancellation. However, Argentina remains a key market for us and we are determined to try again for 2013.”

“We are pleased with the opportunity to bring WTCC to the Slovak Republic for the first time. The Slovakia Ring is a demanding track with modern facilities and is only 170 kilometres away from the Hungaroring where we race the following week.”

Argentina, which has now been unable to secure its provisional placing on the calendar for two years now, hopes to try again in 2013.

“We feel very sorry not to be able to secure the WTCC event at the Autódromo Oscar Cabalén for 2012,” said Gustavo Santos president of the Agencia Córdoba Turismo. “However, we still have a keen interest in the project and we hope to carry it out in the next future.”

Revised 2012 WTCC Calendar

11-Mar – Monza, Italy
1-Apr – Valencia Ricardo Tormo, Spain
15-Apr – Marrakech, Morocco
29-Apr – Slovakiaring, Slovak Republic
6-May – Hungaroring, Hungary
20-May – Salzburgring, Austria
3-Jun – Estoril, Portugal
22-Jul – Curitiba, Brazil
23-Sep – Infineon Raceway, USA
21-Oct – Suzuka, Japan
4-Nov – Shanghai International, China
18-Nov – Macau, China