PARIS, September 8 – Formula One's ruling body confirmed here on Wednesday that the 2011 season would be the longest on record, with the arrival of the Indian Grand Prix boosting the number of races to 20.In other news from its meeting in Paris the FIA announced that no entry had met the required standard to fill the vacant 13th team spot, dashing former world champion Jacques Villeneuve’s hopes of returning to the grid next year.
"None of the candidates meet the requirements to be granted an entry," the FIA confirmed.
The new Indian Grand Prix has been slotted into the calendar as the third last race of the 2011 season, to be held on October 30, although FIA warned that it was subject to the circuit close to New Delhi passing inspection.
Abu Dhabi will now be the penultimate race on November 13 and the concluding Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos on November 27.
The season will start in Bahrain on March 13.
The only other change sees Turkey now opening the European campaign on May 8.
The 20-race calendar for the 2011 Formula One season approved by the sport’s ruling body the FIA here on Wednesday:
March 13 – Bahrain Grand Prix
March 27 – Australian Grand Prix
April 10 – Malaysian Grand Prix
April 17 – Chinese Grand Prix
May 8 – Turkish Grand Prix
May 22 – Spanish Grand Prix
May 29 – Monaco Grand Prix
June 12 – Canadian Grand Prix
June 26 – European Grand Prix
July 10 – British Grand Prix
July 24 – German Grand Prix
July 31 – Hungarian Grand Prix
August 28 – Belgian Grand Prix
September 11 – Italian Grand Prix
September 25 – Singapore Grand Prix
October 9 – Japanese Grand Prix
October 16 – South Korean Grand Prix
October 30 – Indian Grand Prix (subject to circuit passing inspection)
November 13 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
November 27 – Brazilian Grand Prix
