LG Super Racing Weekend to expand globally in 2005

The World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) season will split with the FIA GT Championship and new venues include tracks in Mexico, Macau and Valencia, Spain. The season will kick off at Monza as it follows the FIA GT Championship through Magny Cours, Silverstone and Brno before jetting off to Mexico for a stand-alone race on June 26th, 2005.

The FIA GT championship will take a step closer to becoming a World Championship next year by visiting three new circuits next season. The championship will visit the purpose-built F1 circuit in Istanbul, Turkey, before completing the season with two flyaway races in Bahrain and Dubai.

'The LG Super Racing Weekend was a brilliant success in Dubai this year,' said K H Kim, President, LG Electronics Middle East & Africa Operations. 'The event attracted motor enthusiasts from all over the world to Dubai and proved to be the perfect launch vehicle for the Dubai Autodrome. As a company LG Electronics believes in promoting sporting events and want to build goodwill by sponsoring sporting events around the world.'

Matteo Bobbi and Gabriele Gardel piloted BMS Ferrari to a scorcher of a win at the Dubai leg of the FIA GT Championship. The Maserati duo of Johnny Herbert and Fabrizio de Simone landed the second place followed by the Ferrari team in the third place.

Britain's Andy Priaulx snatched the 2004 ETCC title at Dubai despite finishing level on points with rival Dirk Muller. Priaulx overhauled the 12-point deficit thanks to two-second positions.

Giorgio Mondini (EuroInternational) claimed the Formula Renault V6 Eurocup title thanks to a solid drive to fifth in the final race of the season at Dubai on Friday.

The Super Racing Weekend is one of the world's premier motor sport events and LG has been associated with the series since its inception in 2001. A leading sports marketing company in the Middle East and Africa, LG invests in sporting events to stimulate social improvement and contribute to overall economic development.

The high profile event in Dubai was a prestigious conclusion for 2004 racing calendar. Held for the first time in the Middle East, the event attracted nearly 25,000 spectators, and reinforced Dubai as an international tourism, entertainment and leisure destination.

The World motor sports council has limited the championship to ten events next year, with all meetings made up of two races per event with a distance of 50km. As from 1st January 2005, drivers will be required to wear the FIA approved HANS head restraint.