The provisional calendar for the first season of TCR Japan was unveiled at Suzuka in the context of the FIA World Touring Car Cup weekend, with the series visiting six venues over six race weekends.
TCR Japan was unveiled earlier this month, marking the launch of a standalone TCR sprint racing series in an important country for car manufacturers.
TCR has already been present in Japan through the Super Taikyu endurance category, but now a sprint series will fit in alongside the existing presence of TCR with a racing format similar to that seen in the rest of the world, with two short sprint races over a weekend.
It is hoped that the introduction of a standalone TCR series in Japan will encourage further Japanese brands to build TCR cars, with Honda being the most notable existing TCR manufacturer.
The new series was presented by Akira Kuroshita, president of Japan TCR Management, Marcello Lotti, WSC president and Yoshiiaki Abe, General Manager of Yokohama Motorsport.
The new championship will be promoted by Japan Race Promotion Inc. which also organises the Super Formula series.
Yokohama will be the official tyre supplier, while BS Fuji will be the official TV broadcaster.
Provisional 2019 TCR Japan calendar
26/27 March: Official Test, Fuji Speedway
18/19 May: Rounds 1 & 2, Autopolis
22/23 June: Rounds 3 & 4, Motorland Sugo
13/14 July: Rounds 5 & 6, Fuji Speedway
28/29 September: Rounds 7 & 8, Okayama Int. Circuit
26/27 October: Rounds 9 & 10, Suzuka Circuit
Date TBA: Rounds 11 & 12, Circuit TBA