2021 - Don't get too excited
Discussion
I think we've learnt that with Covid, everything takes much longer than you expect
We're in a position where amateur/non-elite motorsport is about to restart (without spectators), but I suppose that the Classic is complicated, so difficult to make safe and unprofitable without spectators.
Last year, some events did mange to run in the UK, and I've recently heard that we didn't spread any virus
We're in a position where amateur/non-elite motorsport is about to restart (without spectators), but I suppose that the Classic is complicated, so difficult to make safe and unprofitable without spectators.
Last year, some events did mange to run in the UK, and I've recently heard that we didn't spread any virus
I'm presuming the Classic makes the majority of its money from the people attending it, whereas the 24hr makes a portion of money from global TV licensing? I'd move the classic to next year if that was the case, and run the 24hr in September / Oct in the hope that further vaccine rollout may lead to less issues with general logistics (staff, marshals, teams crossing borders).
However end of summer is a risky time as cold and flu season starts, plus the spread from people returning from holidays, colder weather etc. What an ongoing nightmare this is.
However end of summer is a risky time as cold and flu season starts, plus the spread from people returning from holidays, colder weather etc. What an ongoing nightmare this is.
Edited by wsn03 on Friday 26th March 10:09
I imagine their first point of reference will be if the Prologue and first race happens at Spa. They have to fit Le Mans into the WEC season (or, indeed, vice versa), and as they are now dedicated to sea freight (oops......) the entry fees and budgets of the teams are built around that.
They'll do everything they can, as per last year, to run it but the decision will be part of a larger picture.
They'll do everything they can, as per last year, to run it but the decision will be part of a larger picture.
Europe certainly looks to be in a worse situation than last year with sign of it abating, I’d say an August crowd is not going to happen as the France vaccination program only aims to catch up to where we are now by then. I would be at surprised if travel is still restricted then, if it is lifted it is by political pressure rather than sense and thus even a raid is probably looking doubtful and September won’t be any different. My first outing will be the Masters at Brands and I intend to soak in as much as possible as it’s probably going to be one of a limited number of top flight races, but I do wonder how many of the European drivers and cars will make it.
The next thing will be that you’re allowed to travel into France if vaccinated.....but not the Astra Zeneca one. One of the issues EU has, and in particular France, is that their vaccine didn’t work and thus has taken huge numbers out of the program and with constant ‘is it, is isn’t’ re AZ has meant they have been sold elsewhere. Ursula is a failed German politician and she’s doing a fine job of demonstrating this, even Junker has come out to calm things down this the UK....who’d have thought it?
The next thing will be that you’re allowed to travel into France if vaccinated.....but not the Astra Zeneca one. One of the issues EU has, and in particular France, is that their vaccine didn’t work and thus has taken huge numbers out of the program and with constant ‘is it, is isn’t’ re AZ has meant they have been sold elsewhere. Ursula is a failed German politician and she’s doing a fine job of demonstrating this, even Junker has come out to calm things down this the UK....who’d have thought it?
LM240 said:
Talk of national lockdown being announced tomorrow... things are not going the right way still!
I’m back into the get last years vouchers refunded and don’t book anything camp again.
We refunded everything this time. Gives us the chance to reassess next year. Sad news about things getting so bad in France. They seem to have left the lockdown a bit too late this time.I’m back into the get last years vouchers refunded and don’t book anything camp again.
Edited by LM240 on Tuesday 30th March 22:09
I'm not sure quite where we are heading again. The other day 45,000 new cases, then 37,000 then 30,000, suddenly a drop to 9,0000 and then back up to 30,000 again yesterday. Probably late collection of statistics, but whichever way you look at it the signs are bad. Deaths have flattened out to a steady 300 per day, and here in the Sarthe the vaccination rate is picking up a bit to where we are now at 8% have had the first dose. What frightens me this year again isn't now but the holiday season in July and August when they flock to the seaside in their millions. A veritable breeding ground for the virus, and then they bring it back home with them. Just as the 24 Hours starts. I see it as being behind closed doors again.
And last night the bomb dropped. As from Saturday another month of lockdown. We are not permitted to go more than six miles from the house, and all shops except food, hairdressers and I forget the other exceptions are closed. Even the golf course is closed for fork's sake. I think Dustin Hoffman had it right. I'll put the scuba gear on and sit at the bottom of the pool.
ETA:- The latest statistics show that a measly 13% of the population have had the first jab, 300 died yesterday and we shall soon be joining the UK in the 100,000 club. 42,000 new cases were declared yesterday. Here in the Sarthe the authorities have moved our status up from Defcon 2 to Defcon 3. We shall all be watching the 24 Hours on the TV I guess.
ETA:- The latest statistics show that a measly 13% of the population have had the first jab, 300 died yesterday and we shall soon be joining the UK in the 100,000 club. 42,000 new cases were declared yesterday. Here in the Sarthe the authorities have moved our status up from Defcon 2 to Defcon 3. We shall all be watching the 24 Hours on the TV I guess.
Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 1st April 05:16
lowdrag said:
...The latest statistics show that a measly 13% of the population have had the first jab...
I saw something the other day that said that was suggesting not only was the overall percentage fairly low but the vaccines were being targeted at 'red zone' areas with the highest number of cases (ie. Paris and the North East) - so places like the Sarthe were missing out that way too.
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