The ACO has confirmed the Le Mans 24 Hours will move from its traditional June date to September amid the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak.
Around the world, global motorsport calendars have been dramatically impacted with all the major series, Formula 1, MotoGP, IndyCar, Formula E and WEC all cancelling or postponing races.
And as the likely start date for events continues to be pushed back further towards the start of summer, the world’s most famous endurance race is taking no chances.
“Restrictions are currently in force in France and other countries around the world to curb the spread of coronavirus,” the ACO said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Consequently, race organiser the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has decided, in conjunction with the Fédération Internationale Automobile (FIA) and the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), to postpone the 24 Hours of Le Mans originally set for 13-14 June 2020.”
Now, for the second time in history, Le Mans will be held in September on the weekend of the 19-20, the only previous postponement was in 1968 amid local unrest in the country.
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The move will also mean a delay to the start of the new Hypercar era in the WEC, which is set to begin at the start of the 2020-21 ‘super season’.
“It is the right decision to delay in light of the current situation,” said WEC boss Gérard Neveu.
“We are now working on revising our WEC and ELMS calendars for the remainder of this season, and for the WEC’s Season 9 which was due to start in September 2020.
“We will come back to you in the coming days with more news for both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the European Le Mans Series.”
Of course, the Le Mans 24 Hours is also one of the three legs that make up motorsport’s Triple Crown, but the other races, the Indianapolis 500 and Monaco Grand Prix are pushing ahead with preparations for their May 24 date.
At the Brickyard, the importance of the 500 to IndyCar financially is huge and while the USA is implementing tighter guidelines by the day, the latest word is that all system area go, not just for the Oval race but also the Road Course Grand Prix two weeks prior.
“We are aware of the CDC’s interim guidance suggesting the postponement of events involving more than 50 people over the next eight weeks,” said IndyCar in a statement.
“Our priority is to do our part in protecting the public health while still conducting the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge as scheduled on May 24th.
“This continues to be a dynamic situation which we are monitoring constantly in coordination with federal, state, local and public health officials,” the series noted.
“We are planning for all contingencies and will be prepared to run the GMR [Indianapolis] Grand Prix and Indy 500 as the COVID-19 situation permits.”
And finally in Monte Carlo, despite the local government putting the Principality into lockdown amid the outbreak, an exemption has been granted for constructing part of the historic street circuit from the Nouvelle chicane to Tabac.
“This work must continue as long as the decision to postpone or cancel the Formula 1 Grand Prix has not been taken because of the possibility that it will be held in good conditions,” Councillor Marie-Pierre Gramaglia said in a statement.
It is still considered highly unlikely though the race will go ahead, which could mean the first F1 season without a Monaco GP since 1954.
