4 Aug 2009

Overseas start likely for V8s in 2010

6:17 am on 4 August 2009

Next year's V8 Supercar championship looks set to start in the Middle East rather than Australia in one of the biggest calendar shake-ups in the series' history.

Officials are seriously considering starting the 2010 season of Australia's homegrown motor racing category overseas, with the first two events to be held in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

It would mean the traditional season-opening Clipsal 500 in Adelaide would be the third race of an expanded 15-event championship, which would be moved forward to start in February.

V8 Supercars Australia has refused to confirm whether it plans the change.

But a senior member of the Bahrain royal family was present at the Sandown V8 race last weekend, and is believed to have spoken with V8 officials about a February date for the 2010 Bahrain race.