Macau dropped from 2015 WTCC calendar

Macau has been dropped from a new-look World Touring Car Championship calendar for the 2015 season.

The absence of Macau is one of a number of changes from the 2014 calendar, with new races in Thailand and Qatar and a new venue in Portugal. The season will start in Argentina, giving reigning world champion Jose Maria Lopez the opportunity to open his title defence in front of his home crowd at Termas de Rio Hondo in the Santiago del Estero province.

From Argenting it's on to Morocco - hosts of the opening round in 2014 - before the Hungarian round. Following the race at the Hungaroring is one of the standout new additions to the calendar, with two three-lap races at the Nurburgring Nordschleife as part of the support programme to the circuit's famous 24 hour race.

Later in the season, the Portuguese round will be held at Vila Real in northern Portugal in place of Porto. The Japanese race is also set to switch venues from Suzuka to Motegi - although negotiations are still ongoing - before two new locations which will close out the season.

The first of those is in Thailand, with the state-of-the-art Buriram circuit hosting the penultimate round from October 30 - November 1. The season will then conclude in Qatar with what will be the WTCC's first ever night race at Losail.

2015 World Touring Car Championship calendar:

6-8 March - WTCC Race of Argentina (Termas de R?o Hondo)
17-19 April - WTCC Race of Morocco (Moulay El Hassan)
1-3 May - WTCC Race of Hungary (Hungaroring)
15-16 May - WTCC Race of Germany (Nurburgring Nordschleife)
5-7 June - WTCC Race of Russia (Moscow Raceway)
19-21 June - WTCC Race of Slovakia (Slovakia Ring)*
26-28 June - WTCC Race of France (Paul Ricard)
10-12 July - WTCC Race of Portugal (Vila Real)
11-13 September - WTCC Race of Japan (circuit TBC)
25-27 September - WTCC Race of China (Shanghai)
30 October-1 November - WTCC Race of Thailand (Buriram)
20-22 November - WTCC Race of Qatar (Losail)*

*Subject to promoter agreement