The FIA World Rally Championship has at last revealed a revised 2020 calendar for its coronavirus-impacted season with the series set to return to action in September from Estonia.
The WRC has had its 2020 campaign disrupted with several cancellations including Finland, Great Britain and New Zealand.
Five events have been pencilled on a new calendar, largely centred around Europe and Asia.
Estonia becomes the 33rd country to stage a round of the WRC and will kick off proceedings on September 4-6.
Rally Turkey and Germany will follow before a rescheduled round in Italy in late October will hold the penultimate round of a truncated season.
Japan has retained its place on the calendar on November 19-22 and will duly set the scene for the season finale.
Belgium has also been earmarked as a replacement venue should any event be compelled to can its event, the likely being Japan who has already axed its F1 and MotoGP rounds and still has a large question mark hovering over its head as to whether the rally will go ahead.
“Today’s restart announcement sends a clear signal that the 2020 WRC is back in business,” said WRC Promoter managing director Oliver Ciesla.
“WRC Promoters have worked tirelessly with the FIA, our competitors, teams and potential rallies, in exceptional circumstances, to revise the calendar. Today’s news allows the WRC to restart at an appropriate time and ensure a season worthy of world championship status.
“Fans demonstrate huge passion for WRC in both Estonia and Italy. The expectation there, and across the sport in general, will build rapidly from now ahead of September’s championship restart.”
After three rounds of the 2020 WRC season, Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier heads the standings with 62 points, eight clear of teammate Elfyn Evans.
| Round | Rally | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monte-Carlo | 23 – 26 January |
| 2 | Sweden | 13 – 16 February |
| 3 | Mexico | 12 – 15 March |
| 4 | Estonia | 4 – 6 September |
| 5 | Turkey | 24 – 27 September |
| 6 | Germany | 15 – 18 October |
| 7 | Italy | 29 October – 1 November |
| 8 | Japan | 19 – 22 November |
