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.
Order | Dates | Series | Event | Location | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | March 6 – March 8 | Moto GP | Qatar Grand Prix | Losail International Circuit | Qatar |
2 | March 13 – March 15 | World Superbikes | Qatar | Losail International Circuit | Qatar |
3 | March 13 – March 15 | Formula 1 | Australian Grand Prix | Melbourne | Australia |
4 | March 13 – March 15 | IndyCar | St Petersburg Grand Prix | St Petersburg | USA |
5 | March 14 – March 15 | NASCAR | Atlanta Motor Speedway 500 | Atlanta Motor Speedway | USA |
6 | March 13 – March 15 | Indy Lights | St Petersburg | St Petersburg | USA |
7 | March 13 – March 15 | Indy Pro 2000 | St Petersburg | St Petersburg | USA |
8 | March 13 – March 15 | USF2000 | St Petersburg | St Petersburg | USA |
9 | March 13 – March 15 | TC Americas | St Petersburg | St Petersburg | USA |
10 | March 12 – March 15 | TCR Asia Pacific Cup | Melbourne | Melbourne | Australia |
11 | March 15 – March 15 | NHRA | Gatornationals | Gainesville | USA |
12 | March 13 – March 15 | Supercars | Melbourne | Albert Park | Australia |
13 | March 14 – March 15 | British Rally Championship | West Cork Rally | Cork | Ireland |
14 | March 12 – March 15 | Porsche Carrera Cup Australia | Albert Park | Melbourne | Australia |
15 | March 19 – March 20 | World Endurance Championship | Sebring 1000km | Sebring | USA |
16 | March 21 – March 21 | Formula E | Sanya EPrix | Sanya | China |
17 | March 18 – March 21 | IMSA | 12 Hours of Sebring | Sebring | USA |
18 | March 20 – March 21 | IMSA Challenge | Sebring | Sebring | USA |
19 | March 20 – March 22 | Moto GP | Thailand Grand Prix | Buriram International Circuit | Thailand |
20 | March 21 – March 22 | Super Taikyu | Round one | Suzuka | Japan |
21 | March 21 – March 22 | NASCAR | Homestead-Miami 400 | Homestead-Miami | USA |
22 | March 20 – March 22 | Formula 1 | Bahrain Grand Prix | Bahrain International Circuit | Bahrain |
23 | March 20 – March 22 | Formula 2 | Bahrain rounds | Bahrain International Circuit | Bahrain |
24 | March 20 – March 22 | Formula 3 | Bahrain rounds | Bahrain International Circuit | Bahrain |
25 | March 21 – March 22 | NXS | Homestead-Miami | Homestead-Miami | USA |
26 | March 21 – March 22 | NASCAR Trucks | Homestead-Miami | Homestead-Miami | USA |
27 | March 21 – March 22 | Ultimate Cup | Circuit de Catalunya | Circuit de Catalunya | Spain |
28 | March 26 – March 28 | 24H Series | 12H Estoril | Estoril | Portugal |
29 | March 26 – March 28 | European Rally Championship | Azores Rallye | Sao Miguel Island | Portugal |
30 | March 27 – March 29 | World Superbikes | Spain | Jerez | Spain |
31 | April 4 – April 4 | Formula E | Rome Eprix | Rome | Italy |
32 | April 4 – April 4 | Jaguar IPace ETrophy | Rome | Rome | Italy |
33 | April 4 – April 4 | Le Mans Cup | Circuit de Catalunya | Circuit de Catalunya | Spain |
34 | April 4 – April 5 | Super Formula | Round one | Suzuka | Japan |
35 | April 3 – April 5 | Ferrari Challenge Europe | Mugello round | Mugello | Italy |
36 | April 3 – April 5 | Moto GP | Americas Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas | USA |
37 | April 3 – April 5 | IndyCar | Alabama Grand Prix | Barber Motorsports Park | USA |
38 | April 4 – April 5 | European Le Mans Series | Four Hours of Barcelona | Circuit de Catalunya | Spain |
39 | April 3 – April 5 | Formula 1 | Vietnam Grand Prix | Hanoi Circuit | Vietnam |
40 | April 3 – April 5 | Indy Lights | Alabama Grand Prix | Barber Motorsports Park | USA |
41 | April 3 – April 5 | Indy Pro 2000 | Alabama Grand Prix | Barber Motorsports Park | USA |
42 | April 3 – April 5 | USF2000 | Alabama Grand Prix | Barber Motorsports Park | USA |
43 | April 4 – April 5 | Super Formula Lights | Round one | Suzuka | Japan |
44 | April 9 – April 11 | F4 USA | Road Atlanta | Road Atlanta | USA |
45 | April 9 – April 11 | Formula Regional Americas | Road Atlanta | Road Atlanta | USA |
46 | April 12 – April 13 | French F4 | Nogaro | Nogaro | France |
47 | April 12 – April 13 | Alpine Europa Cup | Nogaro | Nogaro | France |
48 | April 15 – April 15 | S5000 | Melbourne | Albert Park | Australia |
49 | April 18 – April 18 | Formula E | Paris EPrix | Paris | France |
50 | April 18 – April 18 | Jaguar IPace ETrophy | Paris | Paris | France |
51 | April 17 – April 19 | Formula 1 | Chinese Grand Prix | Shanghai International Circuit | China |
52 | April 17 – April 19 | Porsche Carrera Cup Asia | Shanghai round | Shanghai International Circuit | China |
53 | April 17 – April 19 | Chinese Formula Four | Shanghai round | Shanghai International Circuit | China |
54 | April 17 – April 19 | GT World Challenge Europe | Monza round | Monza | Italy |
55 | April 17 – April 19 | Formula Renault Eurocup | Monza round | Monza | Italy |
56 | April 17 – April 19 | Moto GP | Argentinian Grand Prix | Termas de Rio Hondo | Argentina |
57 | April 18 – April 19 | World Rallycross Championship | World RX of Spain | Circuit de Catalunya | Spain |
58 | April 24 – April 26 | IndyCar | Long Beach Grand Prix | Long Beach | USA |
59 | April 24 – April 26 | World Touring Car Cup | Race of Hungary | Hungaroring | Hungary |
60 | April 23 – April 26 | World Rally Championship | Rally Argentina | Argentina | Argentina |
61 | April 24 – April 26 | IMSA | Long Beach | Long Beach | USA |
62 | April 25 – April 26 | NASCAR Euro Series | Valencia NASCAR GP Spain | Valencia | Spain |
63 | May 3 – May 3 | Formula E | Seoul EPrix | Seoul | South Korea |
64 | May 6 – May 6 | Formula E | Jakarta EPrix | Jakarta | Indonesia |
65 | May 7 – May 9 | IndyCar | Americas Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas | USA |
66 | May 9 – May 9 | Le Mans Cup | Monza | Monza | Italy |
67 | May 9 – May 10 | European Le Mans Series | Four Hours of Monza | Monza | Italy |
68 | October 9 – October 11 | TCR China | Wuhan | Wuhan | China |
69 | November 13 – November 15 | 24H Series | 24H COTA | Circuit of the Americas | USA |
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Islander
16th March 2020, 8:33
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.
Jeffrey (@jeffreyj)
16th March 2020, 9:15
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.
mrfill (@mrfill)
16th March 2020, 13:47
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.
sato113 (@sato113)
16th March 2020, 11:22
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!
glynh (@glynh)
16th March 2020, 12:52
The smaller circuits probably can’t afford to run without ticket sales unfortunately.
mrfill (@mrfill)
16th March 2020, 13:37
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…
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
16th March 2020, 21:39
@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.