Australia will open 2008 F1 season

Story Highlights
Australia will open the 2008 Formula 1 season on March 16 says the FIA
Singapore and Valencia will make their debuts subject to circuit approval
Canada the lone North American race after removal of the U.S. Grand Prix
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LONDON, England -- France kept its place on the 2008 Formula One calendar on Friday with Singapore and Valencia appearing for the first time and Australia again the season-opener on March 16.

There had been speculation the first race of the 2008 calendar would be moved from Australia to Bahrain.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) published a calendar with 18 races, one more than this year.

Singapore and Valencia will debut, subject to the governing body's approval of their street circuits, on September 28 and August 24 respectively with the Spanish port city's race listed as the European Grand Prix.

Canada, now the lone North American round of the championship after the disappearance of the U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis, was listed as provisional for contractual reasons with a June 8 date.

Although no circuit details were given by the governing body, the French Grand Prix is expected to remain at Magny-Cours in the absence of any other suitable venue.

Locals feared this year's race at the rural circuit near Nevers was destined to be the last grand prix held there after Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone declared the sport would not return in 2008.

However, Ecclestone met French Prime Minister Francois Fillon on Tuesday and agreed to keep Magny-Cours on the calendar for 2008 and possibly also 2009 while the federation sought an alternative venue.

Australia's retention as the season-opener confounded local organizers, who said on Monday that they had lost out to Bahrain.

That race, the only one in the Middle East until Abu Dhabi arrives in 2009, remains third on the calendar after Malaysia on March 23.

Turkey, hitherto an August race, moves forward to May 11 as fifth round of the calendar, between Spain and Monaco. The mid-August slot goes instead to Valencia.

This year's European Grand Prix was at the Nuerburgring but that circuit is due to hand over to Hockenheim next year for the German Grand Prix.

Singapore, with what is likely to be Formula One's first night race under floodlights, kicks off a trio of Far Eastern races with China on October 12 and Japan on October 19 before the season ends later than usual in Brazil on November 2.

Formula One calendar for 2008, published by the International Automobile Federation (FIA):

March 16 - Australia

March 23 - Malaysia

April 6 - Bahrain

April 27 - Spain

May 11 - Turkey

May 25 - Monaco

June 8 - Canadaª

June 22 - France

July 6 - Britain

July 20 - Germany

Aug 3 - Hungary