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Beijing replaces Sonoma World Touring Car Championship round

The World Touring Car Championship has confirmed it will hold a third race in China this season at the Beijing Goldenport Motor Park circuit on October 5th

The meeting, round nine on the WTCC calendar, replaces the American event at Sonoma, scheduled for September 14th.

Logistical difficulties have been blamed by organisers for the changes. Key among these was the cancellation of the September 17th departure of a ship carrying WTCC cars and equipment to Shanghai from Oakland harbour.

The next vessel, leaving on September 21, would not have arrived in Shanghai until October 9, thereby jeopardising the Shanghai race on October 12.

"We had to face a logistic challenge, and after consulting with the WTCC stake holders, we went through all possible scenarios, including date changes and air freight," said Eurosport COO Francois Ribeiro.

"But we came to the conclusion that keeping Sonoma on the schedule was unviable.

"The Chinese Touring Car Championship promoter, our partner in China, has quickly reacted to change its CTCC schedule and put together an alternative event at Beijing, the week before Shanghai."

Steve Page, Sonoma Raceway president said: "We are sorry to miss the terrific on-track action that the WTCC has brought to Sonoma the last two years, but wish the best to everyone involved with the series as they pursue this new schedule."

Prior to settling on Beijing, the Guandong circuit had been considered as a potential venue, as revealed by AUTOSPORT in May.

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