Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many Motorsport events have been postponed or cancelled. Here, at Overtake Motorsport, we are laying out all you need to know.
Every type of Motorsport has been affected in one way or another due to the virus that has been spreading. COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. Despite no one actually knowing how the virus is spreading, precautions are being taken in all areas to minimise the risk. Below, I am going to outline each Motorsport and the changes being made.
MOTOGP
The Qatar GP has already taken place (Sunday 8th March) but that was just for Moto2 and Moto3 only as MotoGP was cancelled due to travel restrictions. Moto2 and Moto3 were already in Qatar for the test at Losail International Circuit but due to travel restrictions brought into force affecting passengers from Italy, MotoGP could not run.
The Thailand GP (originally Round 2 of the MotoGP Calendar) has been postponed until the 2nd-4th October. Due to this change, the Gran Premio de Aragon has been moved forward one week to the 25th-27th September.
As of Tuesday 10th March, with Italy now being quarantined until April 3rd, the Red Bull Grand Prix of Americas has been postponed until November. This is due to the to the fact that most of the MotoGP paddock being effected by the quarantine. The paddock was meant to take place at COTA between 3rd-5th April but will now be moved to 13th-15th November. Due to this change, the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana is pushed back a week to 20th-22nd November.
FORMULA 1
The first thing to change for F1 was the news that the Chinese Grand Prix has been postponed. The Chinese Grand Prix was originally set for 17th-19th April but Juss Sports Group requested the postponement after discussions with the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of People’s Republic of China (CAMF) and Shanghai Administration of Sports. There has been no news on a new date for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Round 2 of the F1 calendar in Bahrain has been made a participants-only event. This is part of a wider set of proactive measures implemented by the country to try and stop the virus’ spread. The Bahrain Grand Prix will have screenings procedures when entering and specialist medical facilities on site along with extra sanitation.
Formula 1 has set out a number of measures based upon advice from Public Health England including the suspension of all non-essential travel. To make sure all personnel of safe, dedicated teams of experts will be set at airports, transit points and at circuits.
FORMULA E
All the way back at the beginning of February, the news broke that the Sanya E-Prix had been postponed until further notice. The Sanya E-Prix was set for March 21st but after discussions with Hainan Province and Sanya Municipal Government, the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of People’s Republic of China (CAMF), and regional partner Enova Holdings, it was decided the event could not take place.
Due to the growing cases throughout Italy and now the country being on lockdown, the Rome E-Prix was the 2nd to be postponed. According to the provisions set out in the ministerial decree concerning measures to counteract and contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country, the Rome E-Prix will not take place on 4th April. This is after sporting events with large crowds and spectators in close proximity are being called into question.
The latest event to be postponed is the Jakarta E-Prix. After instructions from the Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan, the FIA, Ikatan Motor Indonesia (IMI) and the Organising Committee of the Jakarta E-Prix (OC), it will not take place on June 6th. COVID-19 is escalating throughout Indonesia and Jakarta, so, to protect the safety of participants, staff and spectators, the event will take place at a later date. (See Feature Image)
DTM
The DTM Pre-Season test has been relocated to Hockenheim due to the spread and development of the Coronavirus in Northern Italy. DTM organiser ITR decided on the relocation due to the obvious ongoing safety concerns. The Pre-Season Test will now take place at Hockenheimring on 16th-19th March.
If you know of any other changes then please get in touch via our social media pages and we will add it to the list. Keep your eyes peeled on different championship social media platforms for more changes and breaking news stories throughout the year.
Feature Image Credit: ABB FIA Formula E Twitter Page
