Motorsport: Patience is in order

CANCELLED OR POSTPONED In times of the Corona crisis, there are more important things than motorsports. Postponements and cancellations of races are unavoidable. Here is the current status of the dates. In Switzerland there is quasi absolute racing calm - except for the preparation of the cars in the own garages and the team workshops. All Swiss events, courses and other events that [...]

Editorial - March 17, 2020

Like ACS Thurgau, a number of organizers have had to cancel or postpone their races. In many cases already to 2021.

In Switzerland, there is virtually absolute racing engine silence - except for the preparation of the vehicles in the company's own garages and team workshops. All Swiss events, courses and other events that were planned for March and April have now been officially canceled.

Slalom-SM already badly decimated
The organizer of the Bière slalom on May 16/17 understandably considers the risk too great that the more stringent measures against the further spread of the coronavirus will not be relaxed to such an extent that it would be possible to hold the event in a regulated manner.

So the Swiss Slalom Championship will start at the earliest on May 23/24 at Waffenplatz Bure, if not in June in Romont (21st), in Chamblon (28th) or even in late summer. Nothing is certain at the moment.

France date would have fit
If the Rally Pays du Gier in France, which is always scheduled early in March, had counted towards the Swiss rally championship as in previous years, at least these teams would already have a result to their credit. The race around Saint Etienne was just allowed to be held on March 13 and 14 before France also tightened the measures and has now even imposed a curfew.

After the cancellation of the Critérium Jurassien in mid-April, the Rallye du Chablais on the last weekend in May would be the next SM date. Chief organizer Eric Jordan wants to decide on April 20 at the latest. Max Beltrami, organizer of the Ronde del Ticino, also wants to make a decision in the course of April whether to stick to the date of June 26/27. Plan B foresees that the rally around Lugano would only be held in the second half of September.

When do the hill climbs start?
Already affected are also the hill climbs. Already in the middle of last week, Thomas Kohler of ACS Mitte postponed the 55th Reitnau hill climb from June 28, 2020 to June 27, 2021. The Kerenzerbergrennen from mid-June is also on the verge. The OC of Hemberg (June 20/21) is observing the current situation with concern, but wants to take some time before deciding on a possible cancellation.

First Renault Classic Cup, then Porsche Cup?
The theoretical first races in the Auto Sport Schweiz calendar that are not affected by the latest decree and have not yet communicated a cancellation would be the Porsche Cup Suisse opener in Spielberg from May 1-3 and the Seewen slalom, which is part of the ICSM, on May 3. However, Porsche is also dependent on decisions in Austria. Since March 16, the Red Bull Ring has suspended operations until further notice.

The "Prize of the City of Stuttgart" at Hockenheim, where the Renault Classic Cup had planned to hold its first two races from April 17 to 19, has been postponed - like all other motorsport events at the Baden Motodrom until early May - to an as yet undetermined alternative date.

Almost worldwide standstill
Internationally, the racing season with major events will therefore begin or continue in May at the earliest, but June is more realistic. Cancellations and postponements arrive daily, such as that of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

Here is the current status in a listing of the planned first races:

GP Australia, Bahrain, Vietnam, China, Netherlands and Spain postponed* or cancelled
GP Monaco Historique from 8-10 May and GP Monaco from 21-24 May cancelled
FIA Formula E Sanya, Rome, Paris, Seoul and Jakarta postponed* or cancelled
1000 miles Sebring (USA), round of the World Endurance Championship on March 20, canceled
12 Hours of Sebring, IMSA Sports Car Championship, March 21, postponed to November 14
Nürburgring Endurance Series (ex VLN), rounds 1, 2 and 3 of March 21, April 4 and April 18, canceled
12H Estoril (P), 1st round of the 24H Series Europe, March 27/28, cancelled
European Le Mans Series Barcelona, April 4/5, and Monza, May 9/10, postponed*.
GT World Challenge Endurance Cup Monza, April 19, cancelled
Col St-Pierre (F), 1st round European Mountain Championship, April 18/19, cancelled
6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, round of the World Endurance Championship, April 25/26, postponed*.
ADAC GT Masters, TCR & GT4 Germany at Oschersleben, postponed from April 25/26 to October 24/25
Rechbergrennen (A), 2nd round European Mountain Championship, April 25/26, cancelled
WTCR and Truck GP Hungary, April 25/26, cancelled
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Valencia (E), postponed from April 25/26 to Oct. 31/Nov. 1
World Rally Championship Argentina, April 23-26, postponed*.
Hill climb Eschdorf (L), 2/3 May, cancelled
ADAC 24 Hours Nürburgring, prov. postponed from 21-24 May to 24-27 September
WTCR Nürburgring, May 20-22, cancelled
GP Pau (F), modern (May 22-24) and historic (May 30-June 1), postponed*.
24 Hours of Le Mans, final round of the World Endurance Championship, postponed from June 13/14 to September 19/20
Glasbachrennen (D), round of the European Mountain Championship, June 13/14, cancelled