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ESTONIA EARNS PLACE ON REVISED 2020 WRC SCHEDULE

Rally Estonia earns place on revised 2020 WRC schedule - Photo: LAT

By Bruce Williams

Rally Estonia earns place on revised 2020 WRC schedule - Photo: LAT

Rally Estonia earns place on revised 2020 WRC schedule – Photo: LAT

World Rally Championship organisers have released a revised schedule for the remainder of the 2020 championship that includes the official debut of Rally Estonia.

By RHYS VANDERSYDE

After hosting candidate events for the last two years, the home nation of reigning champion Ott Tanak will get the current WRC season back underway in September following an enforced break due to the COVID-19.

Turkey, Germany, Italy and Japan are also scheduled to host their WRC events on the revised schedule. While organisers have also left the option open to run additional events, Belgium’s Ypres Rally (2 – 4 October) and Croatia (date TBC), as well.

“Today’s restart announcement sends a clear signal that the 2020 WRC is back in business.” said Oliver Ciesla, WRC Promoter Managing Director.

“WRC Promoter has 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.”

Rally Argentina is the notable absentee from the schedule. Having previously postponed the event has now been abandoned for this year due to logistical issues.

“I am pleased to announce the 2020 WRC restart calendar following a few months of discussions that have required a great deal of flexibility from all stakeholders in unprecedented times.” said Yves Matton, FIA Rally Director.

“In light of this revised schedule, I am confident we will secure a minimum of eight events this year and this is thanks to the great commitment and work from organisers.”

“As one of the newly proposed rounds, Rally Estonia will be reopening the season in September and I know the Estonian Autosport Union and organising team are putting all their efforts to deliver an event to world championship standards from an already solid foundation.

“Also, extensive work was made with ACI and organisers of Rally Italia Sardegna to reschedule the event and I am happy that they could find a workable slot at the end of October for this much-awaited encounter.”

“Preparations for these rounds are now in full swing while paying the greatest attention to key planning recommendations for mass gatherings in the current Covid-19 context.”

“We are naturally truly disappointed we couldn’t find a logistically viable solution to reschedule Rally Argentina, particularly given all the hard work undertaken by Automóvil Club Argentino and every member of the organisation.”

Revised 2020 WRC Calendar
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

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