Motorsport: Nothing more as planned
DRASTIC MEASURES The rapid spread of Covid-19 and the decrees issued because of it have worldwide consequences also for motor sports. There will be no Swiss racing events before May. After the cancellation at short notice of the Australian GP in Melbourne, the Bahrain and Vietnam Grand Prix will now also be postponed to an unknown date. Due to the cancellation [...]
Following the cancellation at short notice of the Australian GP in Melbourne, the Bahrain and Vietnam Grand Prix will now also be postponed to an unknown date. Due to the cancellation of the first four races, the 2020 Formula One World Championship will not start until the first weekend in May at the earliest. Then, for the first time since 1985, a Grand Prix is planned in the Netherlands at the modernized Zandvoort circuit.
Everything is uncertain
However, due to the unpredictable development of the global spread of the coronavirus and the necessary measures by governments, this is anything but certain. The health of the world's population comes first.
As in many other sports with large audiences, a start or continuation of racing is even possible only in June or July - nothing is unthinkable anymore. Therefore, cancellations or postponements of the races at Zandvoort, Barcelona and Monaco are to be expected. The F1 season would then start on June 6/7 in Azerbaijan. Following the cancellation of Bahrain, FIA Formula 2 and 3 will also not start the season until sometime in Europe.
Formula E Championship interrupted
The FIA Formula E Championship is taking a break for at least three months due to several cancellations. The races in Sanya (China), Rome, Paris, Seoul and Jakarta are therefore cancelled. The next race date would be Berlin on June 21; the last races would be in New York on July 11 and in London on July 25 and 26. It has not yet been decided whether races will be made up.
Other major races overseas are affected as follows:
- 1000 miles Sebring (USA), round of the World Endurance Championship on March 20, canceled
- 12 Hours of Sebring, IMSA Sports Car, March 21, will be final race on November 14.
- IndyCar GP St. Petersburg, Alabama and Long Beach, canceled
- NASCAR Atlanta (March 15) and Homestead-Miami (March 22) postponed
- World Rally Championship Argentina, April 23-26, postponed
- GT World Challenge Asia, season start postponed to end of May
These races and events in Europe are affected as follows:
- DTM test drives Hockenheim, March 16-19, canceled
- Nürburgring Endurance Series (ex VLN), race 1 on March 21 and 2 on April 4 cancelled
- 12H Estoril (P), 1st round of the 24H Series Europe on 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), 18/19 April, 1st round European Mountain Championship, 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), April 25/26, postponed to October 31/November 1
- Hill climb Eschdorf (L), 2/3 May, cancelled
There is no question that further cancellations or postponements will follow continuously in all countries.
Swiss season starts in May at the earliest
Of course, Swiss motorsport is also directly affected. Some organizers acted on their own, others waited for the recent and drastic decisions of the Federal Council on March 13.
As from now and for the time being until the end of April no events with more than 100 people are allowed, all events have to be cancelled, even if this has not yet been communicated by all organizers. The ACS Bern has cancelled the Slalom-SM opener in Interlaken on April 4 without replacement. ACS Thurgau will also not be holding the Frauenfeld Auto Race Days (April 25/26) again until 2021.
The Swiss Automobile Championship (Rally and Slalom) can therefore start in May at the earliest. The organizers of Bière have already cancelled their slalom on May 16/17. First hill climbs are only from mid-June.
As a precaution, the ACS Mitte has already canceled Reitnau (28th). Other organizers could follow its example and already start planning for 2021 instead of still looking for an alternative date for 2020.
The associations inform
The exact national races and events affected can be found on the Auto Sport Schweiz homepage. Cancellations and postponements of international races are communicated by the FIA and the respective national associations and organizers.
