Motorsport

The Belgian Grand Prix appears set to remain on the Formula One calendar beyond this year after Jean-Claude Marcourt, Economics Minister for the region of Walloon, gave his approval for a contract extension of the race at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

The Korean Grand Prix has been dropped from the calendar for Formula One’s 2015 season, but intrigue remains around the campaign’s final make-up with motorsport’s global governing body, the FIA, stating that the calendar will retain a record 21 races.

Sergio Marchionne, the new president of the Ferrari Formula One team and car company, has called on the motor-racing championship to undergo a “revolution” if it is to appeal more to younger fans.

Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has said he is in talks over the possibility of reintroducing a South African round to the motor-racing championship’s calendar.

Financial services company Bayerische Landesbank and Bernie Ecclestone, the chief executive of the Formula One motor-racing series, have filed lawsuits against each other this week, according to the Bloomberg news agency.

CVC Capital Partners, the controlling shareholder of the Formula One Group, has announced the appointment of former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo and former Diageo chief executive Paul Walsh to the motor-racing series’ board, and has confirmed that Bernie Ecclestone will continue as the sport’s chief executive.

Formula E chief executive Alejandro Agag has said that he expects as many as eight new manufacturers to sign up for the second season of the motor racing championship.

McLaren Group chief executive Ron Dennis is set to regain control of the company’s Formula One team after Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat agreed to sell a portion of its stake in the motor racing outfit to its former team principal.

Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has rejected speculation concerning his future at the helm of the motor racing series and has revealed any ambitions from Qatar to join the calendar are likely to be curtailed by the terms of the sport’s existing race contract with Bahrain.

The GP2 Series is to retain its association with sister motor racing championship Formula One after confirming its calendar for the 2015 season will feature the same 11 rounds as featured this year.

Organisers of the new TC3 International Series have opted to rebrand the touring car motor racing championship as the TCR International Series and appointed Marcello Lotti as chief executive as the series gears up for its inaugural season.

The World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) has unveiled four new events on its 2015 calendar, including the motor racing series’ inaugural night race in Qatar.

Paul Walsh, the former chief executive of multinational drinks company Diageo, has reportedly been approached over the possibility of becoming the new chairman of the Formula One Group.

The Korean Grand Prix is set to return to the Formula One calendar in 2015 after being listed as a surprise inclusion on a provisional calendar that swells to a record 21 races.

Formula One teams are to stage a summit meeting later this month in an effort to address the ongoing cost crisis that has engulfed the motor racing competition.

Car manufacturer Ford has confirmed it will pull out of V8 Supercars at the end of 2015 after reducing its commitment to the motor-racing series next year.