Interlagos fixture for Historic F1

Eight races at six events, including a race at Interlagos in Brazil, is the new slimmed down schedule for the 2009 FIA Historic Formula One Championship.

HFO organisers have pared two race weekends from the 2008 programme in light of the global recession and the move has been met with approval from competitors. “That’s the feedback we’re getting,” said organiser Oli McCrudden. “Drivers are keen to be racing, but don’t want to stretch it too much.”

The addition of the race in Brazil has added further quality to a schedule that includes four of the most iconic circuits in Europe. The Interlagos event is being promoted by Brazilian television station Globo TV and all travel and hotel costs will be covered for the HFO teams.

It is expected that the F1 cars will be away for no more than two weeks for the mid-August event. At least 25 cars, along with 12 tonnes of spares and 110 team members, will be flown to South America. Organisers say that the Brazilian race should cost competitors no more than a European event.

McCrudden also hopes that the Brazil trip might be taken up by car owners based in the USA. “It would be superb to get some of them involved,” he added.

The full schedule is as follows: Spa (Belgium), April 25/26; Monza (Italy), June 5-7; Brands Hatch, July 4/5; Interlagos (Brazil), August 15/16; Nürburgring (Germany) September 26/27; Jarama (Spain), October 24/25. The events at the Nürburgring and Jarama will both be double-headers.