Formula Masters China Series (FMCS), China and Asia’s leading international junior single-seater series, is set for a landmark fourth season with an action-packed, 18-race calendar and the brand new FMCS Masters Trophy.
Following the success of the 2015 season – which saw drivers from 15 different countries given unmatched opportunities for career advancement with the Volkswagen Group China motorsport family – FMCS continues its growth, championing fledging talent and providing the optimum platform for driver development.
In 2016, FMCS will race across Asia at six different tracks, making its debut in Thailand as well as in Zhejiang, China. The opening round in Shanghai will be held on China’s prestigious F1 circuit, with Zhuhai, Penbay in Chinese Taipei and the hugely-successful KL City Grand Prix in Malaysia also on the calendar.
A new innovation this season is the FMCS Masters Trophy, a category tailored to more senior drivers keen to hone their car control skills in the region’s premier single seater championship. The Masters Trophy is reserved for drivers aged 30 and above with limited race experience, while category parameters are designed to keep costs low.
The addition of the FMCS Masters Trophy means four titles will be contested during the 2016 FMCS along with the Overall Classification, the FMCS Best Chinese Driver Trophy and the FMCS Team Trophy.
Having further expanded its partnership with the Volkswagen Group China portfolio of prestigious GT championships, this season FMCS will race alongside the Audi R8 LMS Cup at the majority of the 2016 race weekends. With current and former FMCS drivers frequently awarded priceless opportunities to compete in the Audi R8 LMS Cup, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Asia’s premier open-wheel championship puts talent firmly on the radar of the region’s most dynamic and influential automotive group.
The 2016 calendar alignment will also allow drivers from the Volkswagen Group China sportscar championships to compete for the FMCS Masters Trophy.
The new season gets underway on May 21-22 at the Shanghai International Circuit, scene of last year’s ultra-competitive season finale.
From Shanghai, the series moves to China’s southern Pan Delta Region for three races at the Zhuhai International Circuit on June 18-19. A month later, the championship makes its debut in Thailand, adding another page to the FMCS history books, with a triple-header at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram.
A highlight of the 2015 season was the series debut on the Kuala Lumpur Street Circuit as part of the inaugural KL City Grand Prix. With street circuits providing the ultimate challenge for young drivers, FMCS talents will be looking to impress as the series kicks off the second half of the season on August 13-14.
From racing through the streets of downtown Kuala Lumpur, FMCS moves to Taiwan, where it made its debut last year. The tight and twisty track presents another challenge for the drivers as the championship heats up on October 8-9.
Adding a high-octane dose of drama to the season finale on October 29-30 is the second new circuit on the FMCS calendar, located in Zhejiang, China. The 3.2-km FIA Grade 2 circuit is set to open later this year and, not only will the drivers need to master a new circuit, but the battles for the 2016 FMCS titles are sure to go down right to the wire.
Interested drivers are asked to contact FMCS Series Manager Matthijs Hoitink at[email protected] for further details.
