2008 Formula One calendar and circuit details

LONDON, Reuters – Formula One calendar and circuit details for the 2008 season starting in Australia on March 16.

March 16 – AUSTRALIA (Albert Park, Melbourne). Circuit length 5.303km, race distance 58 laps, total distance covered 307.574km. 2007 winner: Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari. A temporary parkland circuit, but still way better than many permanent ones in Europe. The race is a Formula One favourite but it faces an uncertain future with pressure from Bernie Ecclestone for it to be held at night.

March 23 – MALAYSIA (Sepang). 5.543km, 56 laps, 310.408km. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren. The high humidity makes this a strength-sapping race for drivers. Organisers are looking into switching to a night format from 2009, in line with neighbouring Singapore.

April 6 – BAHRAIN (Sakhir). 5.412km, 57 laps, 308.238km. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari. The first and only race in the Middle East, until Abu Dhabi makes its debut next year. Surrounded by desert, Sakhir is one of the most modern tracks but sand can be a problem.

April 27 – SPAIN (Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona). 4.655km, 66 laps, 307.104km. Massa. The most familiar circuit to all the teams, who regularly test there. On the calendar since 1991 but races have often been processional.

May 11 – TURKEY (Istanbul Park). 5.338km, 58 laps, 309.396km. Massa. One of two anti-clockwise circuits in the championship, the other being Interlagos in Brazil. Likened to Spa for its fast and undulating layout, the circuit is on the Asian side of Istanbul. Some 67 per cent of each lap is spent at full throttle.

May 25 – MONACO. 3.340km, 78 laps, 260.520km. Alonso. The jewel in the crown and still the most glamorous race of them all. Qualifying is crucial due to the difficulty of overtaking in the tight and twisty streets. The slowest race on the calendar, but still a thrill.

June 8 – CANADA (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal). 4.361km, 70 laps, 305.270km. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren. Named after the late Ferrari driver and father of 1997 champion Jacques. Now the only North American race and a favourite of fans and drivers. The circuit on a man-made island in the St Lawrence Seaway can be dusty in practice due to lack of use and puts a heavy burden on brakes.

June 22 – FRANCE (Circuit de Nevers, Magny-Cours). 4.411km, 70 laps, 308.586km. Raikkonen. Granted a reprieve last year but unlikely to remain on the calendar for much longer, with Ecclestone pushing for a Paris Grand Prix. The circuit is good, with a very smooth surface, but its location in the middle of rural France plays against it.

July 6 – BRITAIN (Silverstone). 5.141 km, 60 laps, 308.355km. Raikkonen. Another circuit in need of a revamp and regularly threatened by Ecclestone, despite having hosted the very first championship race in 1950. The contract runs out at the end of next year. The track is one of the longest in F1 and popular with drivers.

July 20 – GERMANY (Hockenheim). 4.574km, 67 laps, 308.863km. Alonso (at the Nuerburgring). Now alternating with the Nuerburgring as host of Germany’s one race. Once a fearsome circuit with a fast stretch through the forest, tamed in 2002 with a new stadium section. Britain’s world champion Jim Clark died here in 1968.

Aug. 3 – HUNGARY (Hungaroring, Budapest). 4.381km, 70 laps, 306.458km. Hamilton. The first race behind the old Iron Curtain, still the only one in Eastern Europe. Ranks after Monaco as second slowest in Formula One, although Valencia and Singapore have yet to be assessed.

Aug. 24 – EUROPE (Valencia, Spain). 5.440km, 57 laps, 310.080km. No previous race at this circuit. Europe’s second street circuit, this new race will be set against a backdrop of the America’s Cup port.

Sept. 7 – BELGIUM (Spa-Francorchamps). 7.004km, 44 laps, 308.052km. Raikkonen. The longest and second fastest race on the calendar and one of the all-time greats, despite struggling with poor attendances and financial problems. Weather conditions are unpredictable. The left-right sweep of Eau Rouge is less awesome than it was but still a big test of bravery.

Sept. 14 – ITALY (Monza). 5.793km, 53 laps, 306.720km. Alonso. The oldest and fastest race. Set in a royal park north-east of Milan, the circuit sees speeds of more than 360kph and an average of more than 240kph per lap. No other circuit has hosted more races.

Sept. 28 – SINGAPORE. 5.067km, 61 laps, 309.087km. No previous race. Promises to be the most spectacular newcomer to the sport, with the first night race around the Marina Bay area. Asia’s first street circuit.

Oct. 12 – JAPAN (Fuji). 4.563km, 67 laps, 305.416km. Hamilton. Made its return last year after a 30-year absence. The longest main straight on the calendar. Owned by Toyota, the circuit overlooked by Mount Fuji will alternate from next year with Honda-owned Suzuka. Heavy rain played havoc with last year’s race.

Oct. 19 – CHINA (Shanghai). 5.451km, 56 laps, 305.066km. Raikkonen. A vast state-of-the-art circuit lacking the passion and soul of older European venues. To the north-east of Shanghai, it can seat 200,000 spectators.

Nov. 2 – BRAZIL (Interlagos, Sao Paulo). 4.309km, 71 laps, 305.909km. Raikkonen. A complete contrast to Shanghai, with ramshackle facilities made up for by the sheer passion of the locals and the bowl-like amphitheatre. The other anti-clockwise circuit after Turkey, the track is undulating and fast. Rain is always a risk.

REUTERS mo

Publisher: AAPNewswire

06 Mar 3:11 PM