Formula E is set to race in Sanya next season, marking the return of the electric street racing series to Mainland China on March 23, for round six of the 2018-2019 ABB FIA Formula E Championship.

Sanya—a popular tourist destination on the southern tip of Hainan—will see the futuristic new-look Gen2 cars battling it out on the shores of the South China Sea. Formula E has previously raced in China, with Beijing hosting the first-ever E-Prix around the grounds of the Olympic Park in 2014—as well as the opening round of season two.

The teams and drivers will go wheel-to-wheel against the backdrop of Haitang Bay, with further details on the track layout to be revealed at a later date.

Subject to the approval of the updated calendar by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, the Sanya E-Prix will be the second of two races to be held in Asia in season five, alongside the third visit of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship to Hong Kong on March 10.

“Bringing the ABB FIA Formula E Championship back to Mainland China is an important step in a key territory for the series and a market that’s instrumental to the continued development and uptake of electric vehicles globally,” Formula E Founder & CEO Alejandro Agag said. “Sanya is an idyllic setting for a Formula E race - not just with the stunning views on the shores of the South China Sea—but for the ongoing efforts of Hainan in the field of electric mobility, which has led to Sanya boasting the best air quality of any city in China.”

The global presence of the 2018 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, held December 6-8, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, will increase significantly as a result of new media outreach efforts and PRI Show resources aimed at making the world’s premier motorsports trade show even more conducive to international business and exposure.

In addition to the dedicated International Lounge and translators that are available each year to help motorsports professionals from all over the world take part in the three biggest business days in racing, Show officials will host international media from key regions of the world to facilitate global coverage of the PRI Show. Special events like the annual International Council of Motorsport Sciences (ICMS) Congress, International Motorsports Trade Seminar and the new International Networking Reception cater to the global racing industry.

"Every year thousands of attendees from more than 70 countries attend the PRI Trade Show to see the latest trends and products in the global motorsports industry," PRI General Manger Bill Miller said. "Because of motorsports’ unrivaled international presence and the growth in racing series and events, such as the FIA World Rally Cross Championship, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Formula 1 racing, we increased our media activities and overall international outreach efforts."

The International Lounge, a dedicated area designed specifically to meet the needs of international attendees, features private meeting rooms, Wi-Fi, printer access, credential badge pickup, and interpreters from several countries who are available by appointment at no charge to assist during meetings. Visitors can also enjoy an espresso or a cup of tea in a relaxed atmosphere with other racing industry businesspeople from all over the world.

Visas are required for all international travel into the United States, and PRI can provide a Visa letter to attendees once they have registered for the PRI Show. The PRI Housing team can also assist in securing a hotel room by calling 949/499-2044 or 866/635-6600, or via email at travel@performanceracing.com.

The 2018 PRI Trade Show will feature over 1,100 companies exhibiting in more than 3,300 booths and showcasing the latest developments in auto racing technology. In addition, the days leading up to and including the PRI Show, which have come to be known as Race Industry Week, will offer a range of motorsports-related activities in and around the Indiana Convention Center beginning on Monday, December 3. Numerous conferences, seminars and other special events will offer unlimited business opportunities and provide invaluable insight into the latest technologies and how to apply them throughout the racing world.

To register for the 2018 PRI Trade Show, visit pri2018.com.     

For the first time in NASCAR history, two international series—the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and the NASCAR Pinty’s Series run in Canada—will engineer an exchange of one driver from each series to compete in the championship race in the other’s series later this year.

A driver from the Whelen Euro Series will race in the August 10–12, Grand Prix de Trois Rivieres (GP3R). The European driver will be the regular season winner of the Whelen Euro Elite 1 Championship, to be determined after Sunday’s Oval World Challenge in Tours, France.

That driver will compete for the Dumoulin Competition race team in a Spectra Premium team car on the Canadian GP3R street course.

In the October 19–21, Whelen Euro season finale at Zolder in Belgium, Canadian driver and Spectra Premium ambassador Jean-Francois Dumoulin will complete the driver swap.

Spectra Premium Industries, which has developed high-performance radiators for several stock car series and recently introduced its parts into the European market, made the exchange possible.

The FIA has decided that, for safety reasons, the Formula 2 formation laps of Rounds Six and Seven will start behind the Safety Car.

“This is not an ideal situation, but the drivers’ safety is a top priority. As we do not have the time to test and properly validate a permanent fix to the starting issues what the FIA has decided is definitely the safest decision,” FIA Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel said. “This will also give us enough time to work on a solution to the problem and return to a safe and normal situation for Budapest and the remaining of the season.”

Following issues experienced on the starting grid at Le Castellet where some cars stalled at the start, modifications were implemented to the starting procedure for the recent Spielberg and upcoming Silverstone events.

The Safety Car will lead the grid at the start of the formation lap, complete one lap and return to the pit lane. During the lap the teams will be informed that there will be a rolling start and “RS” will be displayed on the track light panels.

At this point, the lights on the Safety Car will be extinguished and the leader may dictate the pace. The race will start when the first car crosses the line.

Sonoma Raceway and the Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children's Charities (SCC) officials have announced a “spin” on its 12th annual Eric Medlen Nitro Night Charity Dinner, set for Thursday, July 26, at Viansa Sonoma.

This memorable evening has kicked off the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals drag racing weekend and honored the memory of the late Eric Medlen since 2007. New for 2018, the event will focus on honoring someone within the drag racing community who embodies Medlen's best qualities and has shown support of charitable efforts.

Medlen, a native of Oakdale in the San Joaquin Valley, won the Funny Car championship for John Force Racing at his home track in Sonoma in 2006. In 2007, he succumbed to injuries sustained from a testing accident. He is fondly remembered by friends and family for his joyous spirit and outgoing personality, as well as his love for fun and supporting children.

The inaugural recipient of the SCC Eric Medlen Award is 2016 NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps. Capps, a California native, is a long-time supporter of the Sonoma Chapter of SCC, including attending almost every NHRA Tour de Charity karting event and Eric Medlen Nitro Night event since their inceptions. Capps has also donated generous ticket and experience packages to support SCC's fundraising efforts.

"It's an unbelievable honor. Not just the fact that it's the inaugural Eric Medlen Spirit Award, but the fact that it came from Steve Page and his group in Sonoma, and I consider them family," said Capps, driver of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger Funny Car. "My dad took me there as a kid, and whenever someone asks me what my favorite race track is, it doesn't take long for me to say Sonoma.”

The evening will feature a reception, sponsored by McDonald's and Costa Organization, delicious wine country dinner, a charity drawing and special tributes to Medlen and Capps, as well as a Q&A hosted by emcee and 2012 NHRA Funny Car Champion Jack Beckman.

Tickets for the evening are $150 per person or $1,500 per table and include wine/beer and dinner. All proceeds benefit qualified youth groups in Sonoma County in Medlen's name through SCC.

Nitro Night also serves as a kick-off to the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway, July 27-29.

For more information or to purchase tickets to the Eric Medlen Nitro Night Dinner, visit here.

Virgin Australia Supercars Championship officials have unveiled the Adelaide 500 will again serve as the season opener next year on February 28 to March 3, 2019.

Races 1 and 2 of the 2019 season around the iconic street circuit will also feature the Supercars debut of Ford’s new factory-backed Mustang.

Ford Performance in the US, DJR Team Penske and Tickford Racing are currently developing the package replacing the venerable Falcon in 2019.

“As one of the country’s largest and most successful major events, the Adelaide 500 is one of the standouts of our racing season each year,” Supercars CEO Sean Seamer said.

“The incredible range of entertainment on and off track as part of a month of festivities in Adelaide sets it apart as a great celebration for the City.

“The return of the iconic Mustang will only add to this incredible event.”

Adelaide joined the calendar in 1999 and only twice since 2002—in ’10 and ’11—has it not hosted the first races of the Supercars season.

More than 273,000 people attended this year’s opener on what has become a traditional early-March date, as the event celebrated its 20th year.

The first grandstand tickets are now on sale through the event’s Club 500 program, with the balance and general admission released later this year.

Monterey Motorsport Park, an exclusive, luxury garage-condo facility and car community located along Highway 68 adjacent to Monterey Regional Airport in California, has received unanimous approval from the City of Monterey's Planning Department.

Officials are now finalizing construction drawings for the four-building, 90,000 sq. ft. complex in anticipation of an August groundbreaking, with an expected occupancy date of mid-2019.

Monterey Motorsport Park—like its predecessor, Garage Unlimited of Monterey—is part of a “new category” of specialty, car-driven commercial developments.

The facility will have 86 units ranging from slightly less than 700 sq. ft. to 2,600 sq. ft.  Unlike mini-storage units, these are “garage-condos” that buyers purchase, rather than lease, with the potential for long-term appreciation and possible tax benefits for businesses.

While the majority of buyers at Monterey Motorsport Park will be personal collectors and motorsports enthusiasts, some categories of car-oriented and non-car-oriented businesses are also approved for those who wish to run a small business within the unique community. The primary qualifications for acceptance are that a business must be "low impact" regarding the amount of water it consumes, the traffic it creates, and the parking spaces required for employees and customers. More info is available in the complex's CC&R rules.

For further information or to view renderings, visit the facility's website at montereymotorsportpark.com.

ATA Tools, Inc. (ATA) announced a strategic partnership with NMG Aerospace to provide complete repair services for all ATA Air Tools products.

Less than five miles apart near Akron, Ohio, both companies are said to be committed to delivering an advanced repair process focused on quality and productivity.

“Both companies have over 50 years of experience within markets utilizing customized engineering products, have local offices... additional facilities throughout the US and Europe, and most importantly, have a commitment to producing high-quality products which makes this partnership a natural fit," ATA Director of Sales Matt Phillips said.

ATA Air Tool products have existed since the company’s inception over 50 years ago and have a long history of producing high-end quality air tools within several markets. ATA offers 150 SKUs and has produced over half a million air tools to date.    

"Partnering with a local company such as ATA which mirrors our industry leadership and who has an international presence, allows us to elevate our repair service capabilities and enhances the customer experience for both companies,” NMG Aerospace Production Manager Kyle Antol said.

To implement the new partnership, ATA plans the rollout of the repair services at NMG Aerospace's Ohio, facility and adding to their Tempe, Arizona, plant in 2019.

Competitors may now reserve entry for the 2018 Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals again taking place September 3–7, at Lincoln Airpark in Lincoln, Nebraska. Registration for the 46th edition of the event opens Monday, July 2, at 6 p.m. Central Time.

This year’s theme, Game of Cones: Champions are Coming, borrows from the very popular HBO program and will likely result in several interesting interpretations on the premise.

Last year, Solo Nationals set an attendance record with 1,317 entries. The entry cap for the 2018 event is set at 1,350 entrants, including those participating in the Junior Kart classes.

Early registration for Nationals is encouraged as competition numbers will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. The cost to register from July 2—August 13, is $190 per entry, and $85 for Junior Kart classes. After the deadline, the cost of registration increases to $300. August 22 is the last day to register online or receive a refund on registration from before August 13.

Participants can join existing paddock groups during registration until July 23. Registration for individual paddock spaces opens August 1. The run/work order will be posted on August 20.

To find more information on the Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals, visit the 2018 Tire Rack Solo Nationals Championship page.

South Buxton Raceway, a dirt track located in South Buxton, Ontario, Canada, will induct seven into its Hall of Fame over the weekend.

Officials have announced the inductees set to be inducted during a fifth annual ceremony as Mike Bennett, Walter McLlroy, John McLlroy, Brett Reaume, Jimmy Jones, Tom Hazlett and Garry Lemesurier.

Bennett, working as a sports editor for Chatham Daily News, chronicled the raceway’s happenings for almost a quarter-century. He also found work as the track announcer and later as the raceway’s media coordinator.

Walter and John Mallory are brothers that are set to be inducted, following their brother Bob’s induction in 2017. Both Walter and John began dirt track racing in Southern Western Ontario in the 1970s.

Reaume began racing in 1977, and although he claims to have too many wins to recall, his 2004 Dirt Series win stands out. Now retired, Reaume owns West Side Performance Plus, a parts store in Blenheim, Ontario, that sponsors the Late Model Features class.

Jones, who has been racing since 1976, also helps his grandson Cohen’s race crew during their kart races at South Buxton.

“There is no one else I’d want my children to look up to. I’m super proud of their racing team,” Jones’ stepdaughter Shawna Deschryver said in a track release.

Hazlett began his racing career in 1973 and has raced among many of this year’s inductees. Although he has several wins under his belt, Hazlett stresses his love of the sport all around.

Lemesurier began his career as a drag racer before competing as a dirt track racer for a year. In 2014, he took over operations of South Buxton Raceway with his wife, Sherry. Today he owns over 15 race cars, including his step son’s Chris Ross. His driver John Pinsonneault was the first Late Model crate win at the track.

“It’s a privilege to drive for him. He’s been involved in this sport since well before my time. From being a car owner to running the track now, he puts his heart and soul into it,” Ross said.