Disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, the major international motor racing championships are seeing new calendars taking shape with the camera behind closed doors, starting with Formula 1 which hopes to start in early July in Austria. Before that, the American categories planned to resume on May 17 in Darlington (South Carolina) for NASCAR and June 6 on the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth for the IndyCar, each time without an audience.
• Formula 1
After the postponement sine die (Bahrain, Vietnam, China, Netherlands, Spain, Azerbaijan, Canada) or the cancellation (Australia, Monaco, France) of the first ten Grands Prix, the promoter of the Formula 1 “Aims” for a start to the season on July 5 on the Red Bull Ring and a second GP the following Sunday on the same circuit, except for quarantine measures imposed by the countries of origin of the teams. According to this scenario, the championship would end in December in Abu Dhabi and would have between fifteen and eighteen events, instead of twenty-two, organized by geographic areas (Europe in July-August, Eurasia, Asia and the Americas in September-October -November, Middle East in December), when the regulations require eight races.
Several circuits not appearing on the calendar have positioned themselves to host GPs (Hockenheim in Germany, Portimao in Portugal, Imola in Italy) and could enter it, said F1 CEO Chase Carey. Formula One provides, at least initially, for GPs without audiences and with a limited number of people on the paddock. The state of health of the necessary staff of the stables and F1 would be checked before traveling, on arrival, then every two days. The teams would be isolated from each other on the circuits, as well as from the general public outside (flights, on-site transport, hotels). Details are awaited on the Formula 2 and Formula 3 calendars, backed by that of F1.
• Formula E
The first five ePrixes of the 2019-2020 season, which was due to end at the end of July in London, have taken place and the Portuguese Antonio Félix Da Costa leads the classification of the pilots. DS leads that of the manufacturers. The next eight were unable or unable to stand. However, six to fifteen races are required to validate a championship. Formula E founder Alejandro Agag and CEO Jamie Reigle, however, estimated in early May that it would be possible to schedule several races without an audience between late July-early August and September.
The possibilities of organizing ePrix in Berlin, Seoul, on circuits rather than in the city center or of co-organizing events with the DTM, the German championship of passenger cars, were mentioned. In any event, the season should end in September, so that the 2020-2021 fiscal year begins as planned at the end of the year.
• IndyCar
Usually run in late May, the Indianapolis 500 Miles have been rescheduled to August 23.
• WEC
After the first five rounds of the 2019-2020 season, the No. 7 Toyota (José Maria Lopez-Kamui Kobayashi-Mike Conway) leads the World Endurance Championship. Six events, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, are required to validate it, but the organizers are trying to maintain the initial figure of eight. In early April, they announced the postponement of the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps to August 15. The Belgian government has since banned mass protests until August 31, which could lead to closed doors.
The 24 hours of Le Mans were postponed to September 19 and 20 and could be postponed until October or November if necessary, according to Pierre Fillon, president of the organizer, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. The 8 Hours of Bahrain (which replaces the 1000 Miles of Sebring) must close the season on November 21. Consequently, the calendar for the next one, which was to start at the beginning of September, must be revised. It will not start until March 2021.
• WRC
Three tests took place between January and mid-March and the French Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) leads the classification of the drivers. The three rounds scheduled between April and June have been postponed sine die (Argentina, not before the 4th quarter of 2020, and Italy) or canceled (Portugal). The following are currently maintained, some subject to reservation. A decision for Kenya (July 16-19) is expected in mid-May. The situation in Finland (6-9 August) should be reassessed in early June, with a possible postponement to September or October, that of New Zealand (3-6 September) in late May. The rules of the World Rally Championship do not require a minimum number of events.
• WRX
The Rallycross World Championship, which was due to start in mid-April in Spain, has planned to start from August 20 to 23 in Sweden, with a total of nine events (instead of eleven) on eight circuits, including one in France at Lohéac ( Brittany) from September 4 to 6. It is due to end on December 13 in Germany.
• WTCR
The Passenger Car World Cup did not start as planned in late April in Hungary. After several race cancellations, the promoter Eurosport Events and the FIA were working in mid-April on a new calendar running from the end of August to November.
– .
