By IANS
London : The Formula One season will contain 18 Grand Prix races in 2008, including two new street races in Valencia and Singapore.
The calendar released by governing body FIA Friday starts as usual in Australia, contrary to earlier claims by the Melbourne organisers.
The season is one race longer than this year to accomodate the new events.
The Valencia race is Aug 24 with Singapore Sep 28. Both are conditional upon the tracks being approved by the FIA.
The June 8 Canadian race is listed as provisional pending contractual confirmation.
The season will end Nov 2 in Brazil, as has become the norm.
The Turkish race has been moved from August to May 11, to accomodate the Valencia event.
The schedule released by the FIA Friday does not indicate whether Singapore will be a night race – as has been discussed so it is held at a time more convenient for European TV viewers.
But the organisers of the Australian race have already said the Melbourne event will not be held at night.
2008 Formula One calendar:
March 16 Australia (Melbourne)
March 23 Malaysia (Sepang)
April 6 Bahrain (Sakhir)
April 27 Spain (Barcelona)
May 11 Turkey (Istanbul)
May 25 Monaco
June 8 Canada
June 22 France
July 6 Britain (Silverstone)
July 20 Germany (Hockenheim)
Aug 3 Hungary (Hungaroring)
Aug 24 Europe (Valencia)
Sep 7 Italy (Monza)
Sep 14 Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
Sep 28 Singapore
Oct 12 China (Shanghai)
Oct 19 Japan (Fuji)
Nov 2 Brazil (Interlagos)