TCR World and life

3 SPOTLIGHT The coronavirus pandemic that is spreading around the world is also having a huge impact on motorsport and a number of races are being cancelled or postponed. Unsurprisingly, TCR series and championships are among a rapidly-growing list of affected events. Among the first – and most high- profile – events to be cancelled was the brand new TCR Asia Pacific Cup that was scheduled to run as part of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix weekend in Melbourne. Drivers were getting ready to take part in the first of the three races when the news came through that all track activities had been cancelled. The event promoter announced: “At 9am today the Australian Grand Prix Corporation was advised by Formula 1 of their intention to cancel all activities at the Australian Grand Prix. In light of this decision and updated advice this morning from the Chief Health Officer of the Victorian Government’s Department of Human and Health Services, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation confirms the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is cancelled immediately.” During the same weekend, the same happened to TC America rounds 3 and Coronavirus risk affects TCR series around theworld Italia Turismo have also been forced to cancel or reschedule the first events of their respective series, while the ADAC 24H Nürburgring was postponed from springtime to fall. With reports of the number of people infected increasing on a daily basis, it’s inevitable that the list of postponements and cancellations will continue to grow in the coming weeks and so other series and races that are monitoring the situation and working on alternative schedules are TCR Europe, TCR Italy, TCR DSG Europe and TCR Spa 500. In what is a global emergency, TCR events aren’t alone in being affected because of the risk to competitors and spectators. Along with the first part of the Formula One season, other motorsport cancellations or postponements include rounds of the FIA WEC, the Le Mans 24 hours, WRC, Formula E, MotoGP and the Isle of Man TT races. Away from motor racing, sports from Archery to Rugby have had to cancel events or stage matches behind closed doors and there are even concerns over the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. On behalf of the entire TCR family, stay safe everyone. 4, following the decision of Indy Car to scrap the St. Petersburg’s race meeting, while IMSA announced the postponement of the 12H of Sebring, and this included the 2-hour second round of the Michelin Pilot Challenge that has been moved from 19 March to 12 November. Within days came the news that the first two events of the WTCR at the Hungaroring (April 24/26) and the Nürburgring (21/23 May) had also been cancelled. Since it won’t be possible to reschedule them, the two races planned for the Hungaroring will be added to the schedule of the Motorland Aragón circuit, while the two German races will be incorporated one each in the timetables of Vila Real and the Salzburgring. In a statement, the WTCR promoters, Eurosport Events, said that they are keeping an eye on the situation at the third event at the Slovakiaring, but the intention is to maintain the total of twenty races during the season. The promoters of TCR Australia, TCR Asia, TCR Germany, TCR Japan, TCR Russia, TCR Denmark, TCR Eastern Europe, TCR UK, the 24H Series, Super Taikyu the VLN Nürburgring Langstrecken Series and the Coppa