Now here's a surprise: the new Dubai-based Speedcar series will support the F1 Grands Prix at Bahrain and Sepang next year.
Speedcar has barely registered on the motorsport radar since the speculative unveiling of its plans early this year.
Since then, however, the 620bhp V8 NASCAR-style stock cars have been extensively tested, and big-name former F1 drivers Jean Alesi, Ukyo Katayama, Johnny Herbert, Stefan Johansson and Gianni Morbidelli have signed up to race, as has current Williams F1 test driver and former Jordan driver Narain Karthikeyan.
The eight-round Middle East-based championship starts on November 3 this year. Each round consists of one qualifying session and two 45-minute races.
The series will also support the new Bernie Ecclestone-backed Asia GP2 series next year.
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