Motorsport

Nissan has today (Wednesday) become the first Japanese automotive manufacturer to announce its participation in the Formula E electric car-racing championship.

The World Rallycross Championship (World RX) motor-racing series will head to the United States for the first time next year after an agreement was reached for an event to be held at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) facility in Austin, Texas.

France’s financial watchdog, the Parquet National Financier (PNF), is investigating the role played by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in January’s takeover of the Formula One motor-racing series by US mass media company Liberty Media, according to the New York Times.

Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is to become the first city in the Middle East to stage the Race of Champions (ROC) after securing hosting rights for the motorsport event.

The US city of Portland will return to the IndyCar schedule in 2018 after an 11-year absence, the North American motor-racing series has announced.

The World Rallycross Championship (World RX) has said it is engaged in wide-ranging discussions over its future direction after French automotive manufacturer Peugeot committed its future to the motor racing series, while US carmaker Ford opted to withdraw.

In a wide-ranging interview with SportBusiness International's Ben Cronin, Sean Bratches, Formula One's managing director of commercial operations, outlines the sport's ambitious plans, from esports to OTT and sponsorship.

Motor racing will return to Switzerland for the first time in more than 60 years following the announcement that Zurich will join Santiago, Sao Paulo and Rome as new venues on the 2017-18 Formula E calendar.

The World Rally Championship (WRC) will return to Turkey for the first time since 2010 after the country was confirmed as the host of a new round on next season’s calendar.

Motor-racing series the World Endurance Championship (WEC) has adjusted its calendar for the 2018-19 season, which will now feature an event at Silverstone.

British automotive marque Jaguar has stepped up its commitment to the Formula E electric car-racing series by unveiling plans for a fully-electric support series to run alongside selected races in the championship from the 2018-19 season.

The World Endurance Championship (WEC) has unveiled a new strategic plan that includes a shakeup of its calendar model and changes to technical regulations amid manufacturer exits from the motor-racing series.

Thailand is poised to join the MotoGP calendar in 2018 with a three-year race deal set to be signed later this week.

The Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan has agreed a new five-year deal to remain on the calendar for the MotoGP motorcycle-racing world championship through to 2023.

Plans have emerged for a $100m (€85.9m) project in Nigeria that is set to result in West Africa’s first motorsport circuit and leisure park development.

With governments, manufacturers and consumers opening up to electric, motorsport is already preparing for a post-petrol and diesel age. Andy Fry reports.

Luxury car manufacturer Porsche has unveiled plans for a factory-backed works team to compete in the Formula E Championship electric car-racing series from the 2019-20 season.

Formula One teams have turned down the chance to invest in the motor-racing series, after Liberty Media confirmed that a deadline for the initiative has expired.