FULTROT’S 2018 RACING CALENDAR

Last weekend I got a wakeup call. The racing season is well upon us for Vale and the guys were racing at the Losail Circuit in Qatar. Lewis and the F1 circuit can’t be that far back. Time to put and keep my nose to the grindstone. I always map out the year in advance so I know which weekends I need to be where. It’s also a way to look for interesting opportunities to visit some tracks or events I like a lot or haven’t been to yet. Car Museums are on that list as well. So without further ado, below you will find a the racing calendar for the major racing series we follow at FulTrot. These are: Formula One, World Rally Championship, World Endurance Championship, MotoGP, V8 Super Cars, and the N.H.R.A.

2018 FIA Formula One World Championship:

New rules and regulations governing the championship along with new ownership have pushed the pinnacle of open-wheel racing well into the future, and I wasn’t even referring to the halo! Will this be the year that Ferarri takes back the throne it so comfortably sat on during the last decade? Or will Max Verstappen finally begin to challenge for the podium on a consistent basis? Mark your calendars and find out.

1. Australian GP, Melbourne, March 23-25 (first race in 1996)
2. Bahrain GP, Sakhir, April 6-8
3. Chinese GP, Shanghai, April 13-15
4. Azerbaijan GP, Baku, April 27-29
5. Spanish GP. Barcelona, May 11-13
6. Monaco GP, Monte Carlo, May 24, 26-27
7. Canadian GP, Montreal, June 8-10
8. French GP, Le Castellet, June 22-24
9. Austrian GP, Spielberg, June 29 – July 1
10. British GP, Silverstone, July 6-8
11. German GP, Hockenheim, July 20-22 (no race here in 2017)
12. Hungarian GP, Budapest, July 27-29
13. Belgian GP, Spa-Francochamps, August 24-26
14. Italian GP, Monza, August 31 – September 2
15. Singapore, Marina Bay, September 14-16
16. Russian GP, Sochi, September 28-30
17. Japanese GP, Suzuka, October 5-7
18. Unites States GP, Austin, October 19-21 (yet to be confirmed)
19. Mexican GP, Mexico City, October 26-28
20. Brazilian GP, Sao Paolo, November 9-11
21. Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina, November 23-25

The 2018 FIA World Rally Championship:

If you’ve ever seen an in-car camera shot of how a rally car driver maneuvers, or better said, saws back and forth the steering wheel as if guided by instinct, you will not be surprised when I say that rally car drivers are in a league of their own. The reigning World champion is Sebastien Ogier and the manufacturers’ is M Sport World Rally Team.

1. Rally Monte Carlo, January 25-28, mixed, jewel in the WRC crown,
2. Rally Sweden, February 15-18, frozen roads and snow, Colin’s Crest,
3. Rally Guanajuato Mexico, March 9-11, gravel,
4. Corsica Linea – Tour de Corse, April 5-8,
5. YPF Rally Argentina, April 26-29, gravel,
6. Vodafone Rally de Portugal, May 17-20, gravel,
7. Rally Italia Sardegna, June 7-10, gravel,
8. Neste Rally Finland, July 26-29, gravel,
9. ADAC Rally Deutschland, August 16-19, tarmac,
10. Marmaris Rally Turkey, September 13-16,
11. Dayinsure Wales Rally GB, October 4-7, gravel,
12. RallyRACC Catalunya – Rally de España, October 25-28, mixed
13. Kennards Hire Rally Australia, November 15-18

The 2018 FIA World Endurance Championship:

Next to Formula One sprint racing, WEC’s four different categories competing in one race make it very interesting and entertaining for spectators. Let alone that it’s packed with high tech engineering. Remember that it was in this sport that AUDI launched it’s turbo diesel technology a decade or so ago. Nowadays its hybrid technology being put to the test for anywhere between 6 to 24 hours at a time.

1. 6 Hours of Spa-Francochamps, Belgium, May 2-5,
2. 24 Hours of Le Mans, Circuite de la Sarthe, France,  June 9-17
3. 6 Hours of Silverstone, Great Brittain, August 17-19
4. 6 Hours of Fuji, Japan, October 12-14
5. 6 Hours of Shanghai, China, November 16-18

The 2018 FIM MotoGP:

Arguably of all the types of motor racing, MotoGP has the most slipping and sliding, dizzying amount of passing per lap, and excitement one should experience as a spectator. With mega star Valentino Rossi getting a two-year extension, he’s sure to give the young guns a run for their money.

1. GP of Qatar, Losail Circuit, March 18
2. GP Motul de la Republica de Argentina, Termas de Rio Hondo, April 8
3. Red Bull GP of the Americas, C.O.T.A., April 22
4. GP Red Bull de España, Jerez,May 6,
5. HJC Helmets GP of France, Le Mans, May 20
6. GP d’Italia Oakley, Autodrome del Mugello, June 3
7. GP Monster Energy de Catalunya, Spain, June 17
8. Motul TT Assen, Holland, July 1
9. GoPro Motorrad GP Deutschland, Sachsenring, July 15
10. Monster Energy GP Ceske Republiky, Automotodrome Brno, August 5
11. Motorrad GP von Osterreich, Spielberg, August 12
12. Octo British GP, Silverstone, August 26
13. GP Tribul MasterCard di San Marino i della Riviera del Rimini, Sept 9
14. GP Movistar de Aragon, MotorLand Aragon, September 23
15. PTT Thailand GP, Buriram Int’l Circuit, October 7
16. Motul GP of Japan, Twin Ring Motegi, October 21
17. Australian Motorcycle GP, Phillip Island, October 28
18. Shell Malaysia Motorcycle GP, Sepang, November 4
19. GP Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana, Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Nov 18

The 2018 V8 Supercars Championship:

Truly exciting racing goes on down under. I think it would be a fair statement say ” when one wraps up the intensity of Formula One, the endurance of WEC, and the bumping and grinding of NASCAR, all into one, one gets V8 Supercar racing”.

1. Adelaide 500, March 1-4
2. TyrePower Tasmania SuperSprint, April 6-8
3. WD-40 Phillip Island SuperSprint, April 20-22
4. Perth SuperSprint, May 4-6
5. Winton SuperSprint, May 18-20
6. CrownBet Darwin Triple Crown, June 15-17
7. Watpac Townsville 400, July 6-8
8. Coates Hire Ipswich SuperSprint, July 20-22
9. Red Rooster Sidney SuperNight, August 4
10. The Bend SuperSprint, August 24-26
11. Sandown 500, September 14-16
12. SuperCheap Auto Bathurst 1000, October 4-7 (Crown Jewel)
13. Vodafone Gold Coast 600, October 19-21
14. ITM Auckland SuperSprint, November 2-4
15. Coates Hire Newcastle 500, November 23-25

The 2018 Mello Yellow NHRA Championship:

The photo above illustrates the shear rough power these nitro-methane breathing engines produce. One dropped cylinder … and BAM! Called Funny Cars, for obvious reasons, along with their cousins, the Top Fuel dragsters, they’re engines are capable of producing in excess of 10.000 hp and reach some 300+ mph (500+ km) in just 1000 ft (300m). If you haven’t been to an NHRA race yet, well, you don’t know what you’re missing.

1. Winternationals, Pomona CA
2. Gatornationals, Gainesville FL
3. Denso Spark Plugs Four Wide Nationals, Las Vegas NV, April 6-8
4. NHRA Spring Nationals, Royal Purple Raceway TX, April 20-22
5. NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four Wide Nationals, zMax NC, April 27-29
6. NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta GA, May 4-6
7. Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals KS, May 18-20
8. NHRA Route 66 Nationals, IL, May 31 – June 3
9. Virginia NHRA Nationals, June 8-10
10. NHRA Thunder Vally Nationals, Bristol, June 15-17
11. Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, June 21-24
12. NHRA New England Nationals, Epping, July 6-8
13. Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals, Denver, July 20-22
14. Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 27-29
15. NHRA North West Nationals, August 3-5
16. Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Brainerd, August 16-19
17. Chevrolet Performance US Nationals, Indy, Aug 29 – Sep 3
18. Dodge NHRA Nationals, Maple Grove, Sep 13-16 (start of Countdown)
19. AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, Sep 21-23
20. AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, Texas Motorplex, Oct 4-7.
21. NHRA Carolina Nationals, zMax Dragway NC, October 12-14
22. NHRA Toyota Nationals, the Strip at Las Vegas, NV, Oct 25-28
23. Auto Club NHRA Nationals, Pomona CA, November 8-11

Sources: Formula One, FIA/WRC, ACO WEC, FIM MotoGP, V8 Supercars, N.H.R.A.

Photo credit: Getty Images, Sportsblazereport, Kristof Vermeulen, Tribunnews, V8 Supercars, Mark J Rebilas.