Motoring

'09 WRC season to lose its classic race

Published

The Monte Carlo Rally will be absent from a slimmed-down 2009 World Rally championship calendar while Poland will join the list, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Friday.

Bulgaria, Indonesia and Russia will be the newcomers in 2010 under a new rotational system that will see 24 differnt events over the two-year period with the calendar trimmed to 12 rounds a year.

Ireland, new in 2007, will open the 2009 season before the classic Monte Carlo event returns in January 2010. The Monte will also start the 2008 season's calendar.

The 2007 event was won by Citroen's Sebastien Loeb.

The calendars were published on Friday after the FIA's World Motor Sport Council met in Monaco. - Reuters

2009 calendar

Feb. 1 - Ireland

Feb. 15 - Norway

March 15 - Cyprus

April 5 - Portugal

April 26 - Argentina

May 24 - Italy

June 14 - Greece

June 28 - Poland

Aug. 2 - Finland

Sept. 6 - Australia

Oct. 4 - Spain

Oct. 25 - Britain

2010

Jan. 24 - Monte Carlo

Feb 14 - Sweden

March 7 - Mexico

April 11 - Jordan

April 25 - Turkey

May 16 - New Zealand

June 20 - Indonesia

July 18 - Russia

Aug. 8 - Bulgaria

Aug. 22 - Germany

Sept. 12 - Japan

Oct. 10 - France