WTCC drops Sochi race plan

The Russian round of the World Touring Car Championship will remain at Moscow Raceway for 2016 after a move to Sochi fell through.

The Russian Grand Prix Formula 1 venue had been set to host the championship's season-opening event in March but the event has now been pushed back to June 10-12, with Moscow Raceway instead hosting the WTCC for a fourth year in a row. The 12-round season will therefore start at Paul Ricard on the weekend of April 1-3.

The Portuguese round in Vila Real has been confirmed for a second season, with the event now scheduled to take place on June 24-26, two weeks later than originally planned to make room for Moscow.

REVISED 2016 WTCC CALENDAR

April 3: Paul Ricard
April 17: Slovakiaring
April 24: Hungaroring
May 8: Marrakech
May 29: Nurburgring Nordschleife
June 12: Moscow
June 26: Vila Real
August 7: Termas de Rio Hondo
September 4: Suzuka
September 25: Shanghai
November 6: Buriram
November 25: Losail

Originally on Autosport.com