The Australian GT Championship has announced a seven-round calendar for 2012, with a mix of key V8 Supercars events and Shannons Nationals rounds.
Round 1 of the championship will kick off at the Clipsal 500 in March, with a 60 minute twilight race, and a 30 minute sprint race.
The following four rounds will be mini enduro events, with 2 x one hour races on the Shannons Series, featuring optional driver changes, and compulsory timed pit stops.
The championship will then move to the Armor All Gold Coast 600, wrapping up at Homebush in Sydney with the Telstra 500 for the final round. Both of the final events will feature races with pit stops.
The series is also canvassing the possibility of a non-championship round in New Zealand.
“We are extremely excited about the 2012 season,” said category administrator Craig Nayda.
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“The calendar delivers what the competitors have been asking for in longer race formats, while also featuring on three of the marquee V8 Supercars events.”
All rounds will be televised through free to air, SPEED Channel, and internationally through Motor World.
The four mini-enduro rounds will also count towards the CAMS Tourist Trophy, a prestigious Australian Sports Car trophy previously won by Sir Stirling Moss.
New cars for 2012 include the Ford GT of Adelaide’s Kevin Weeks, Roger Lago’s Lamborghini LP600, Peter Edwards’ Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, and a second Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 to be driven by James Brock for Erebus Racing.
Newly crowned 2011 champ Mark Eddy is also rumoured to be shopping for a 2011 spec Audi R8 to defend his title next year.
See below for the full 2011 calendar
| Rd. | Date | Location | Event | Format |
| 1 | March 1-4 | Adelaide | Clipsal 500 Adelaide | 1 x 1hr & 1 x 30 min |
| 2 | May 25-27 | Phillip Island | Shannons Nationals | 2 x 1hr |
| 3 | June 22-24 | Winton | Shannons Nationals | 2 x 1hr |
| 4 | July 13-15 | Eastern Creek | Shannons Nationals | 2 x 1hr |
| 5 | September 21-23 | Phillip Island | Shannons Nationals | 2 x 1hr |
| 6 | October 19-21 | Surfers Paradise | Armor All Gold Coast 600 | 2 x 40 mins |
| 7 | Nov 30-Dec 2 | Homebush | Sydney Telstra 500 | 2 x 40 mins |
