Rally GB has been dropped from the 2020 World Rally Championship season, marking the first time the championship will not visit the UK.
Initially scheduled to host the penultimate round of the season on October 29-November 1, the British event joins Portugal, Kenya, Finland, and New Zealand on the list of cancelled rounds due to complications brought on by the pandemic.
The cancellation leaves just five more rallies on the calendar, including two events that have already been postponed.
Turkey, Germany, and Japan remain the only rallies to hold their original dates, while Argentina and Italy are yet to be rescheduled.
Motorsport UK chairman David Richards said the organising body was compelled to make the decision based on the situation regarding the ongoing pandemic.
“This is not a decision that we have taken lightly but, in close consultation with our chief funding partner the Welsh Government, it is sadly one we are obliged to make in light of the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic.
“As the governing body of UK motorsport, our overriding responsibility and absolute priority is always the safety of all involved whether they be competitors, officials, spectators or the many thousands of volunteers who share our passion for this sport, and we thank them all for their ongoing support and enthusiasm in these difficult times.
“While significant progress is being made to combat the virus, there remains considerable uncertainty regarding mass gatherings, social distancing and travel restrictions, plus the possibility of a resurgence of viral transmission later in the year.
“We have been closely monitoring the guidance issued by Government and it is becoming increasingly clear that it is impossible to make plans with any certainty for such major events in the autumn.
“We therefore have to accept, with an incredibly heavy heart, that cancelling this year’s event is the only responsible and prudent option. We will instead start focusing our attentions on creating an even bigger and better world-class showcase for 2021.”
Rally GB had been a fixture on the WRC calendar since the championship’s inception in 1973, with the event itself having been run since 1967.
In addition to the event cancellation, the British Rally Championship has been cancelled entirely.
Only one rally, the Cambrian Rally, has taken place so far, with the majority of the remaining rounds having already been called off.
