The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council has officially confirmed the 2012 Formula One World Championship calendar.

The 20-race season will begin in Australia on the March 15-18 weekend, and once again conclude in Brazil – a race that will be run back-to-back with the new United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

The 2012 season will mark the first time since 2005 that the Turkish Grand Prix is not on the calendar, while the second-running of the Indian Grand Prix will take place in November to avoid the heat of its initial April slot.

The Bahrain Grand Prix, which was cancelled this season due to violent unrest in the country, moves from the position of season-opener to the fourth race, and will be twinned with the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

The FIA WMSC also confirmed that the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship will take to Beijing’s Goldenport Motorpark circuit on the second weekend of September this year following the cancellation of its Brazilian round.

A Commission for the new FIA World Endurance Championship for sports and GT cars has also been established. The 12-man panel is made up of a president (Sir Lindsay Owen Jones), four representatives from the FIA, four from the ACO and one each from the manufacturers (Audi), teams (Felybermayr) and tyre companies (Michelin).

Williams Grand Prix director of engineering Patrick Head joins Jacky Ickx, Andrew Craig and Yoshiki Hiyama in the FIA seats.

See below for the full 2012 Formula One calendar