The FIA World Touring Car Cup event at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, scheduled to take place from the 20 – 23 May, has been cancelled after the organisers of the 24 Hours race moved the event to September due to the coronavirus pandemic.
After the cancellation of the rounds originally scheduled to take place in Morocco and Hungary in April, the latter also due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Race of Germany in May had been set to be the season opener.
However, the 24 Hour race has now been rescheduled for September by the promoter ADAC Nordrhein and the DMSB, the German ASN. That date is incompatible for WTCR, which runs as a support event, due to the Asian leg of the WTCR taking place in the Autumn months.
Consequently the event has been cancelled for WTCR, pushing the season opening event back to the Slovakiaring on 5 June at the earliest.
With WTCR promoter Eurosport Events still planning to run a 20-race season, additional qualifying sessions and races are planned to be incorporated into the Portuguese and Austrian rounds in the Summer.
Two additional races were already planned for the WTCR Race of Spain in July due to the earlier cancellation of the Hungarian round.
“We fully respect and support the decision of ADAC Nordrhein to postpone the ADAC 24h-Rennen event in accordance with measures taken by the German government in these very difficult times,” said Head of Eurosport Events, François Ribeiro.
“ADAC Nordrhein is our partner in Germany since 2015 and we will both do everything possible to see WTCR racing again on that iconic circuit.
“We also hope as many fans as possible will attend on the rescheduled September date and that unique event is the huge success it always has been.
“While health and safety considerations remain the absolute priority, as we have communicated previously, our intention is to do all we can to maintain a 20-race schedule for WTCR in 2020.
“The rescheduling of the races planned for Nürburgring Nordschleife to Vila Real and Salzburgring will allow this to be achieved.
“We will continue to monitor the situation in Slovakia, where the WTCR is due to race from 5-7 June, in consultation with the FIA, the event promoter and relevant authorities.
“If necessary, we will follow the same process regarding the rescheduling of the Slovakia Ring races into existing WTCR events straight after the summer.”