Coronavirus: Jakarta ePrix is third Formula E race to be called off

Formula E is looking at adding more races after the latest Jakarta ePrix postponement

Jean Eric Verge and Max Guenther battle during the 2020 Formula E Marrakech ePrix

DPPI

The Jakarta ePrix has been postponed due to coronavirus, becoming the third Formula E event affected by the outbreak.

The race was due to be held on June 6, but Indonesian officials intervened to “protect the health and safety of championship participants, staff and spectators”.

A quarter of the 12 Formula E race weekends this season have now been disrupted, with the Chinese and Italian rounds cancelled and postponed too.

The series is looking at running two races at some of its remaining events, and could also add new rounds to the calendar, which would be run at existing tracks, rather than the street circuits that Formula E usually favours.

Related article

There’s also the option of running races behind closed doors, said Formula E co-founder Alberto Longo

“With the growing number of Covid-19 cases in countries where Formula E currently has events scheduled to be held, we are evaluating contingency plans to lessen the potential impact of coronavirus and maintain the highest possible number of races on the calendar for season six,” he said.

“It is a fluid situation, developing on a daily basis and we remain realistic and flexible in our approach to alternative options, which will be communicated in due course. These include adding double-headers to existing events, using permanent facilities and racing behind closed doors if necessary and advised to do so by local authorities in any given location.”

Formula E said that it was left with no choice but to cancel the Jakarta race, after instructions from the governor of the city.

“Due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and the escalating number of cases in Indonesia and Jakarta, the decision has been taken as the most responsible course of action, to protect the health and safety of championship participants, staff and spectators,” the series said in a statement.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely with the relevant authorities and the Organising Committee of the Jakarta E-Prix, in order to assess the possibilities of rescheduling the race at a later date.”

The next Formula E race is scheduled to be held in Paris on 18 April, followed by Seoul on 3 May, but there are doubts over the South Korean date as coronavirus cases continue to rise in the country.

It is not clear whether the Rome and Jakarta races will be able to be rescheduled before the end of the season.

As it stands, London is due to be the final event on the calendar and was already planned as a double-header on 25-26 July.