Kiwi V8s driver Shane van Gisbergen. Photo / Getty Images
The V8 Supercars will race 16 championship events in 2012, the most on record, and organisers have promised more in following years.
Next year's calendar will feature an international race in November when V8 Supercars race alongside Formula One in Abu Dhabi, as they do at the Australian Grand Prix
in Melbourne each year. Shifting the Abu Dhabi Championship races to November means the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide reclaims its place as the season opener, also shortening the season by roughly a month.
Another feature of the season is the Bathurst 1000, which celebrates its 50th year in 2012. The iconic Australian race was first run in 1963 as the Armstrong 500 at Phillip Island.
V8 Supercars chairman Tony Cochrane said the changes to the calendar were part of the long-term strategy of adding more international events, as well as compacting the season over time to provide more regular and frequent events.
"In 2013 we already have a confirmed race in Austin, Texas, which will blow the socks off our big North American fanbase with at least three other potential overseas races on the cards,'' Mr Cochrane said. "It's vital we begin planning for these possible additional races now when we piece together the dates not just for next year but also many years to come.''
