Turkey GP slashed from 2012 F1 calendar

The Turkish Grand Prix has been axed from the Formula One Grand Prix season for next year after a seven-year run.

The 20-strong definitive list agreed by the World Motor Sport Council saw Turkey lose out while Bahrain returned to the programme after missing out this year due to domestic civil unrest.

Whilst the Turkey GP has thrown up good races, attendances have been poor and Ecclestone was unable to agree a new deal with race organisers sealing its fate.

Bahrain is back with a slot on April 22. The provisional calendar in July had Bahrain back-to-back with Middle Eastern neighbour Abu Dhabi late in the year in the belief that pairing it with its neighbour would allow further time for peace to be restored to the Gulf kingdom.

However, it has been decided the race will be the fourth in the calendar, and will be back-to-back with China.

The season will start in Australia on March 18.

The calendar

March 18: Australia;
March 25: Mala-ysia;
April 15: China;
pril 22: Bahrain;
May 13: Spain (Barcelona);
May 27: Monaco;
June 10: Canada;
June 24: Europe (Valencia);
July 8: Britain;
July 22: Germany (Hockenheim);
July 29: Hungary;
Sept. 2: Belgium;
Sept. 9: Italy;
Sept. 23: Singapore;
Oct. 7: Japan;
Oct. 14: Korea ;
Oct. 28: India;
Nov. 4: Abu Dhabi;
Nov. 18: US;
Nov. 25: Brazil.