2016 Championship calendar released

Click here for the full 2016 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship Calendar

The first ever V8 Supercars championship event in Malaysia and more regular racing throughout the season are the key features of the expanded 2016 calendar announced today.

V8 Supercars Chief Executive James Warburton said the calendar would be "the most exciting the sport had seen and a major win for fans".

Highlights for 2016 include:

- Clipsal 500 Adelaide to open the season on March 3-6

- WD40 Phillip Island SuperSprint moved from November to April to follow the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix

- A debut championship event in Kuala Lumpur from August 12-14

- Shorter breaks between events with a four week winter break

- The Coates Hire Sydney 500 to close the season a week earlier on November 25-27.

"We have a taken a close look at the calendar and come up with something that will be great for the teams, drivers and fans across Australia," Warburton said.

"This more compact calendar delivers consistent and regular events throughout the season and expands the championship into Asia in what is a truly exciting development for the sport.

"We believe it will result in an even bigger following for our sport both locally and overseas with bigger crowds and our expanded television coverage on Fox Sports and Network Ten.

"A more condensed calendar will help build even more momentum and still provide adequate breaks for the teams and drivers.

"We have also moved the Coates Hire Sydney 500 forward to the end of November in what we expect will be a massive grand finale to the season."

Warburton said the formats for the events would be announced later in the year but would again be focused on delivering the best entertainment for fans across the country.

"Whether they be sprint races or endurance events, we are committed to delivering first class entertainment and unprecedented access for fans to their heroes," he said.

V8 Supercars held a demonstration event in Kuala Lumpur last month and will return to the Malaysian capital next August in the first championship event.

"Malaysians were genuinely excited to see our five cars race through the streets of KL and we can only imagine their reaction when the full field is on the grid next year," Warburton said.

"We expect up to 10,000 Australians to travel to Kuala Lumpur for the event which will also build exposure for V8 Supercars across Asia."

Traditionally held in November, the WD40 Phillip Island SuperSprint will now be held from April 15-17 and is one of three championship events in Victoria as well as the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

"2016 will be a year like no other for V8 Supercars in what is an action packed calendar for fans who will once again enjoy high octane entertainment on and off the track," Warburton said.

The 2016 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is a non-championship event. The calendar is subject to FIA approval.