Britain and Germany’s motorsport calendars next to feel the impact of Coronavirus

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The spread of the Coronavirus has caused unprecedented disruption to the start of the 2020 motorsport season worldwide.

Over 100 races have now been cancelled or postponed as governments strive to contain a virus which has caused, as of yesterday, 5,735 deaths.

China, where the virus originated, was the first country to see races called off. Formula E’s race in Sanya and Formula 1’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai were among the first to be affected. But as the virus has spread with remarkable speed the Americas and Europe have joined Asia in striking hundreds of planned races in March, April and, in some cases, later in the year.

The same action has not been in every country. Britain’s racing circuits are yet to report any major race cancellations.

Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix, said at the end of last week it was “business as usual” for them. It will hold the pre-season media event for the popular British Touring Car Championship tomorrow. The event, which is open to the public, is “full” according to the track.

The BTCC’s season is due to begin at Donington Park on the last weekend in March. However the series organisers may be planning to pull the race.

On Friday, when Formula 1 abandoned efforts to hold its season opener in Melbourne and dozens of other races followed suit, the BTCC initially issued a statement saying its events “are planned to go ahead as scheduled”.

“Our position follows the UK government’s announcement yesterday that no restrictions on outdoor events are being introduced at this time,” it continued. “It also reflects the overwhelming desire of the BTCC teams, our fans and the circuits for the events to take place – unless of course a change in circumstances subsequently dictates otherwise.” The notice was quietly deleted from their website over the weekend.

While the British government originally indicated it would not impose the same ban on mass gatherings seen in other European countries as a result of Coronavirus, that policy appears set to change. Scotland, which has its own government, has already announced restrictions. It may therefore only be a matter of time until the BTCC, and the likes of British F3, British F4 and British GT racing, are forced to abandon plans to begin their seasons in the coming weeks.

Some major series in Germany are also set to continue, although several of these were not due to being racing until the end of next month. Its major domestic series, the DTM, will hold its season opener at the Zolder circuit in Belgium on the last weekend of April. The German F4 season is slated to start the same weekend at Oschersleben.

However the Nurburgring has already announced the cancellation of some non-motorsport events at its tracks over the coming days. The DTM, having relocated its pre-season test from Monza to Hockenheim, has now cancelled the event, which was due to begin today.

The managing director of series organiser ITR, Marcel Mohaupt said “with regard to the start of the 2020 season, we are engaged in a close dialogue with our partners, manufacturers and local race organisers”. It will be a situation familiar to many motorsport organisers as the impact of the Coronavirus continues to be felt.

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Races cancelled or postponed due to Coronavirus

A list of Coronavirus-affected events identified so far. Includes some events which hold multiple races per weekend.

OrderDatesSeriesEventLocationCountry
1March 6 – March 8Moto GPQatar Grand PrixLosail International CircuitQatar
2March 13 – March 15World SuperbikesQatarLosail International CircuitQatar
3March 13 – March 15Formula 1Australian Grand PrixMelbourneAustralia
4March 13 – March 15IndyCarSt Petersburg Grand PrixSt PetersburgUSA
5March 14 – March 15NASCARAtlanta Motor Speedway 500Atlanta Motor SpeedwayUSA
6March 13 – March 15Indy LightsSt PetersburgSt PetersburgUSA
7March 13 – March 15Indy Pro 2000St PetersburgSt PetersburgUSA
8March 13 – March 15USF2000St PetersburgSt PetersburgUSA
9March 13 – March 15TC AmericasSt PetersburgSt PetersburgUSA
10March 12 – March 15TCR Asia Pacific CupMelbourneMelbourneAustralia
11March 15 – March 15NHRAGatornationalsGainesvilleUSA
12March 13 – March 15SupercarsMelbourneAlbert ParkAustralia
13March 14 – March 15British Rally ChampionshipWest Cork RallyCorkIreland
14March 12 – March 15Porsche Carrera Cup AustraliaAlbert ParkMelbourneAustralia
15March 19 – March 20World Endurance ChampionshipSebring 1000kmSebringUSA
16March 21 – March 21Formula ESanya EPrixSanyaChina
17March 18 – March 21IMSA12 Hours of SebringSebringUSA
18March 20 – March 21IMSA ChallengeSebringSebringUSA
19March 20 – March 22Moto GPThailand Grand PrixBuriram International CircuitThailand
20March 21 – March 22Super TaikyuRound oneSuzukaJapan
21March 21 – March 22NASCARHomestead-Miami 400Homestead-MiamiUSA
22March 20 – March 22Formula 1Bahrain Grand PrixBahrain International CircuitBahrain
23March 20 – March 22Formula 2Bahrain roundsBahrain International CircuitBahrain
24March 20 – March 22Formula 3Bahrain roundsBahrain International CircuitBahrain
25March 21 – March 22NXSHomestead-MiamiHomestead-MiamiUSA
26March 21 – March 22NASCAR TrucksHomestead-MiamiHomestead-MiamiUSA
27March 21 – March 22Ultimate CupCircuit de CatalunyaCircuit de CatalunyaSpain
28March 26 – March 2824H Series12H EstorilEstorilPortugal
29March 26 – March 28European Rally ChampionshipAzores RallyeSao Miguel IslandPortugal
30March 27 – March 29World SuperbikesSpainJerezSpain
31April 4 – April 4Formula ERome EprixRomeItaly
32April 4 – April 4Jaguar IPace ETrophyRomeRomeItaly
33April 4 – April 4Le Mans CupCircuit de CatalunyaCircuit de CatalunyaSpain
34April 4 – April 5Super FormulaRound oneSuzukaJapan
35April 3 – April 5Ferrari Challenge EuropeMugello roundMugelloItaly
36April 3 – April 5Moto GPAmericas Grand PrixCircuit of the AmericasUSA
37April 3 – April 5IndyCarAlabama Grand PrixBarber Motorsports ParkUSA
38April 4 – April 5European Le Mans SeriesFour Hours of BarcelonaCircuit de CatalunyaSpain
39April 3 – April 5Formula 1Vietnam Grand PrixHanoi CircuitVietnam
40April 3 – April 5Indy LightsAlabama Grand PrixBarber Motorsports ParkUSA
41April 3 – April 5Indy Pro 2000Alabama Grand PrixBarber Motorsports ParkUSA
42April 3 – April 5USF2000Alabama Grand PrixBarber Motorsports ParkUSA
43April 4 – April 5Super Formula LightsRound oneSuzukaJapan
44April 9 – April 11F4 USARoad AtlantaRoad AtlantaUSA
45April 9 – April 11Formula Regional AmericasRoad AtlantaRoad AtlantaUSA
46April 12 – April 13French F4NogaroNogaroFrance
47April 12 – April 13Alpine Europa CupNogaroNogaroFrance
48April 15 – April 15S5000MelbourneAlbert ParkAustralia
49April 18 – April 18Formula EParis EPrixParisFrance
50April 18 – April 18Jaguar IPace ETrophyParisParisFrance
51April 17 – April 19Formula 1Chinese Grand PrixShanghai International CircuitChina
52April 17 – April 19Porsche Carrera Cup AsiaShanghai roundShanghai International CircuitChina
53April 17 – April 19Chinese Formula FourShanghai roundShanghai International CircuitChina
54April 17 – April 19GT World Challenge EuropeMonza roundMonzaItaly
55April 17 – April 19Formula Renault EurocupMonza roundMonzaItaly
56April 17 – April 19Moto GPArgentinian Grand PrixTermas de Rio HondoArgentina
57April 18 – April 19World Rallycross ChampionshipWorld RX of SpainCircuit de CatalunyaSpain
58April 24 – April 26IndyCarLong Beach Grand PrixLong BeachUSA
59April 24 – April 26World Touring Car CupRace of HungaryHungaroringHungary
60April 23 – April 26World Rally ChampionshipRally ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina
61April 24 – April 26IMSALong BeachLong BeachUSA
62April 25 – April 26NASCAR Euro SeriesValencia NASCAR GP SpainValenciaSpain
63May 3 – May 3Formula ESeoul EPrixSeoulSouth Korea
64May 6 – May 6Formula EJakarta EPrixJakartaIndonesia
65May 7 – May 9IndyCarAmericas Grand PrixCircuit of the AmericasUSA
66May 9 – May 9Le Mans CupMonzaMonzaItaly
67May 9 – May 10European Le Mans SeriesFour Hours of MonzaMonzaItaly
68October 9 – October 11TCR ChinaWuhanWuhanChina
69November 13 – November 1524H Series24H COTACircuit of the AmericasUSA

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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7 comments on “Britain and Germany’s motorsport calendars next to feel the impact of Coronavirus”

  1. F1 should really forget the 2020 championship entirely and start to think of non-champ events/races behind closed doors and televised free to air. That would at least lift the morale of the population struggling with the virus.

    But Silverstone, Austin, even Abu Dhabi? Not a chance.

    1. I don’t think teams like Haas and Williams would survive past 2020 if the entire season is called off. Even Liberty Media itself is at risk of going bust if that happens.

      1. But consider – if there is no F1 and restrictions on movement, people will watch a lot more TV and many will watch VirginMedia (aka Liberty Media). More viewers = higher card rates for advertisers = More income. And Liberty Media operate worldwide – I wouldn’t waste any tears on them right now.

  2. Why not just hold the BTCC behind closed doors? Allow team personnel in and a select group of media (ITV4 people etc.). If people are going to be at home a lot in the coming months, then give them something to look forward to watching!

    1. The smaller circuits probably can’t afford to run without ticket sales unfortunately.

    2. And the local marshals.
      And the recovery truck people.
      And the circuit admin staff.
      And it goes on.
      Yes, they could try and run a closed race but once the media darlings get the story it’ll get the shock, horror, BTCC spreading germs treatment.
      I’m afraid you’ll need to get a gentle memory delete and watch some archive stuff and pretend its live…

    3. @sato113
      BTCC wouldn’t be cost effective without its support package too (track hire, etc). It is estimated that there are around 1,500 people required on site to make it and the support categories run (inc, teams, marshalls, broadcasters, etc). If we’re banning events of more than 1,000, we’ve already exceeded that without public.

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