The first premier class race of the season in Qatar only featured Moto2 and Moto3 races, as the teams already present at Qatar’s Losail Circuit for pre-season testing.
Since then the season-opener has been pushed back further. Several early races have been rescheduled, while those in Spain, France, Italy and Catalunya have been postponed and have not yet been given new slots.
The latest announcement brought the cancellation of both the Australian and British rounds, with races due to be held in Germany, Finland and the Netherlands already cancelled.
The Czech Grand Prix is left as this year’s season opener, but it’s thought that the Austrian Grand Prix, on August 16, is most likely to host the first race – at this stage.
Coronavirus changes to the 2020 MotoGP calendar
Race
|
Date
|
Status
|
Qatar |
8 March |
Cancelled (Moto2 and Moto3 races go ahead) |
Spain |
3 May |
Postponed (date unknown) |
France |
17 May |
Postponed (date unknown) |
Italy |
31 May |
Postponed (date unknown) |
Catalunya |
7 June |
Postponed (date unknown) |
Germany |
21 June |
Cancelled |
Netherlands |
28 June |
Cancelled |
Finland |
12 July |
Cancelled |
Czech Republic |
9 August |
Likely to change |
Austria |
16 August |
No change |
Great Britain |
30 August |
Cancelled |
San Marino |
13 September |
No change |
Áragon |
27 September |
Moved to accommodate Thailand |
Thailand |
4 October |
Rescheduled from March 22 |
Japan |
18 October |
No change |
Australia |
25 October |
Cancelled |
Malaysia |
1 November |
No change |
Americas |
15 November |
Rescheduled from April 5 |
Argentina |
22 November |
Rescheduled from April 19 |
Comunitat Valenciana |
29 November |
Moved to accommodate Americas and Argentina |
World Rally Championship
The difficulties of organising long countryside stages, while potentially having to discourage large crowds proved overwhelming for Wales Rally GB organisers, who said that there are too many uncertainties to commit to holding the event this year.
It joins Safari Rally Kenya, plus rounds in New Zealand, Finland and Portugal on the list of cancelled 2020 rounds.
The season began in Monte Carlo, but by the third round in Mexico, Covid-19 restrictions were starting to take effect.
Epidemiologists and health workers joined spectators on stages, while drivers and team members from countries worst-affected by coronavirus were checked and monitored.
In the event, the event finished early — on the Saturday evening rather than Sunday afternoon — to ensure that crews could return home, as several countries began imposing travel restrictions and airports closed.
Since then, the crackling exhausts have been silenced. Rally Turkey is the next scheduled event at the end of September.
Coronavirus changes to the 2020 WRC calendar (March to August)
Race
|
Date
|
Status
|
Rally Mexico |
12-15 March |
Finished early |
Rally Argentina |
23-26 April |
Postponed (date unknown) |
Rally Portugal |
21-24 May |
Cancelled |
Rally Italy Sardinia |
4-7 June |
Postponed (date unknown) |
Safari Rally Kenya |
16-19 July |
Cancelled |
Rally Finland |
6-9 August |
Cancelled |
Rally New Zealand |
3-6 September |
Cancelled |
Rally Turkey |
24-27 September |
No change |
Rally Germany |
15-18 October |
No change |
Wales Rally GB |
29 Oct-1 Nov |
Cancelled |
Rally Japan |
19-22 November |
No change |
British Touring Car Championship
The BTCC has announced plans to begin the season in August, starting with four events in five weeks, as it looks to squeeze in 27 races over nine weekends before the end of the season.