It's postponed!
Discussion
Vette_1978 said:
The Spa 6hrs which I’ve rearranged tunnel and hotel for seems scuppered then. Oh well, 2021 it is.
The ACO/WEC are still maintaining the stance that the Spa 6 Hours will go ahead. Make of that what you will, but personally it stinks of wanting the circuit to make the decision for them so that they (ACO/WEC) do not look like the bad guys. No word from ELMS/MLMC yet which is scheduled for the weekend before.It really is time IMHO for these Series to make a considered, responsible stand on activities in 2020 and even as someone who earns from them, I think that should be a blanket cancellation. That way everybody knows exactly where they stand. Whether you believe lockdown is required or not, I'm firmly of the opinion I'd rather still be around in 6 months to moan about it if I felt like it rather than potentially not being able to.
As much as I really want sept 24hrs to happen, at the moment I’m putting it at 10% likely (and that’s optimistic).
I just don’t see this fizzling out and even without full lockdowns, things just aren’t going back to normal with a click of the fingers afterwards.
Just think of the contact points around the circuit, the close proximity in the stands and banking. Shared showers and toilets in the campsites. Then the pubs, hotels etc etc. The travel from many countries, the resources required to make it happen etc etc.
Even with any lockdown easing, how on earth would continued social distancing rules stand a chance of letting events like this happen. It just won’t be all or nothing in terms of the regulations.
Sad and strange times and it won’t be long before Le Mans 2021 (along with other similar events) is even questionable!!
I just don’t see this fizzling out and even without full lockdowns, things just aren’t going back to normal with a click of the fingers afterwards.
Just think of the contact points around the circuit, the close proximity in the stands and banking. Shared showers and toilets in the campsites. Then the pubs, hotels etc etc. The travel from many countries, the resources required to make it happen etc etc.
Even with any lockdown easing, how on earth would continued social distancing rules stand a chance of letting events like this happen. It just won’t be all or nothing in terms of the regulations.
Sad and strange times and it won’t be long before Le Mans 2021 (along with other similar events) is even questionable!!
Agree. Spoke with TL couple of days ago and their view is that it’s unlikely to go ahead, and in fact plenty of companies are asking the ACO to call it now, but they’re not willing to do so. I’d imagine, due to cash flow and costs already paid out.
Time will tell, but I’m not optimistic that I’ll be in France come September.
Time will tell, but I’m not optimistic that I’ll be in France come September.
The Professor in charge of immunity medicine in Denmark has stated that they need an effective medicine before we be allowed to travel and attend big events and that could take a year. They will not allow travellers from countries with worse numbers than DK (and they are very low)... He claimed it could last a year https://hsfo.dk/artikel/k%C3%A5re-m%C3%B8lbak-regn...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52376543
So the Dutch government have banned all large gatherings until September. The above article is about their football league, which is of no real concern, but its more wide ranging than that. With Belgium already showing their hand on this as well, just a matter of time until every other country follows suit. With Le Mans occurring soon after this, would the French be comfortable, or morally confident, in inviting 250,000 plus all the teams and sponsors to the circuit. And would the teams be comfortable in racing, putting their staff in potentially harms way. Tricky decision.
So the Dutch government have banned all large gatherings until September. The above article is about their football league, which is of no real concern, but its more wide ranging than that. With Belgium already showing their hand on this as well, just a matter of time until every other country follows suit. With Le Mans occurring soon after this, would the French be comfortable, or morally confident, in inviting 250,000 plus all the teams and sponsors to the circuit. And would the teams be comfortable in racing, putting their staff in potentially harms way. Tricky decision.
It will ultimately come down to smaller factors prescribing a bigger reaction. The French travel restrictions are very stringent at the moment and Edouard Philippe, the Prime Minister has warned against travel even after the restrictions are lifted and raised doubt about "conditions of entry or re-entry" to France, which he predicted would be "quite demanding for those arriving from abroad".
This also effects the ELMS races as people such as Oreca, OnRoak etc would need to travel from within France to other land connected countries but crucially also back in again, not to mention all the ACO officials (this is something the F1 season needs to start soon people are overlooking as well, a lot of the FIA people are obviously France based so travel is not easy). Shanghai WEC was probably as close to a behind closed doors major international race I've been to it's still busy with teams, officials, marshals etc etc. Social distancing just doesn't work in that scenario.
Finally though it does come down to one thing even if the race goes ahead (sub 10% chance now IMHO) to my mind. As Vette_1978 says, there will be an influx of people (final amount dependent on how many times the ACO count the same ticket going in and out as unique people...) into a fairly confined area with let's be honest hygiene levels a bit lower than the norm, so would you/me/us as individuals be happy to go and put yourself and your loved ones at potential risk of a second peak?
I have to be honest, without a viable vaccine, I'm very dubious if I'd work that race or any.
This also effects the ELMS races as people such as Oreca, OnRoak etc would need to travel from within France to other land connected countries but crucially also back in again, not to mention all the ACO officials (this is something the F1 season needs to start soon people are overlooking as well, a lot of the FIA people are obviously France based so travel is not easy). Shanghai WEC was probably as close to a behind closed doors major international race I've been to it's still busy with teams, officials, marshals etc etc. Social distancing just doesn't work in that scenario.
Finally though it does come down to one thing even if the race goes ahead (sub 10% chance now IMHO) to my mind. As Vette_1978 says, there will be an influx of people (final amount dependent on how many times the ACO count the same ticket going in and out as unique people...) into a fairly confined area with let's be honest hygiene levels a bit lower than the norm, so would you/me/us as individuals be happy to go and put yourself and your loved ones at potential risk of a second peak?
I have to be honest, without a viable vaccine, I'm very dubious if I'd work that race or any.
chasingracecars said:
Looks like they are expecting to change the dates again.
October or November now but I recon it will be cancelled all together. I can’t see events being held in France or here for some time .
The Professors at No 10 say that social restrictions will remain for the rest of the year. They'll gradually open the schools and the shops, but the last bit to go will be overseas travel. October or November now but I recon it will be cancelled all together. I can’t see events being held in France or here for some time .
chasingracecars said:
Looks like they are expecting to change the dates again.
October or November now but I recon it will be cancelled all together. I can’t see events being held in France or here for some time .
What's this based on? If any countries have social distancing in place at this time then there is no alternative than to cancel, bumping month to month is no use for anyone.October or November now but I recon it will be cancelled all together. I can’t see events being held in France or here for some time .
It is hard enough at work trying to predict when certain things will go back to normal and plan for that, but for these events it is so tricky.
A November event could be a bit bleak!!
As much as they / we want it to happen, they've given an alternative date. If that's not going to happen, I think the next best thing is to simply postpone/cancel until further information becomes available.
You can't keep making new plans when you can't predict the situation for that new date.
A November event could be a bit bleak!!
As much as they / we want it to happen, they've given an alternative date. If that's not going to happen, I think the next best thing is to simply postpone/cancel until further information becomes available.
You can't keep making new plans when you can't predict the situation for that new date.
Daytona is in January happily enough for the teams, so it will be a bit of a cold one for us spectators...
In all honesty I've been classified in an at risk group and I don't think I'm prepared to risk it personally. Not travelling abroad or far this year. Hoping they just cancel so my tickets can roll onto next year.
We will hopefully do a 24hours in the garden though watching an old race.
In all honesty I've been classified in an at risk group and I don't think I'm prepared to risk it personally. Not travelling abroad or far this year. Hoping they just cancel so my tickets can roll onto next year.
We will hopefully do a 24hours in the garden though watching an old race.
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