The TCR Asia Pacific Cup has been cancelled after the event at Albert Park was officially cancelled by the FIA, Formula One and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation due to a member of the paddock testing positive for coronavirus.
A member of the McLaren Formula One team tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus on Thursday, prompting the McLaren team to officially withdraw from the Grand Prix.
More than eight hours later, a statement was jointly issued by the FIA, Formula One and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, confirming the cancellation of the entire event.
By this stage, the TCR cars were already on the grid for the first of three races for the TCR Asia Pacific Cup, for which Garth Tander had claimed pole position in his Audi.
The full statement:
“Following the confirmation that a member of the McLaren Racing Team has tested positive for COVID-19 and the team’s decision to withdraw from the Australian Grand Prix, the FIA and Formula 1 convened a meeting of the other nine team principals on Thursday evening.
“Those discussions concluded with a majority view of the teams that the race should not go ahead. The FIA and Formula 1, with the full support of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) have therefore taken the decision that all Formula 1 activity for the Australian Grand Prix is cancelled.
“We appreciate this is very disappointing news for the thousands of fans due to attend the race and all ticket holders will receive a full refund and a further announcement will be communicated in due course.
“All parties took into consideration the huge efforts of the AGPC, Motorsport Australia, staff and volunteers to stage the opening round of the 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship in Melbourne, however concluded that the safety of all members of the Formula 1 family and the wider community, as well as the fairness of the competition take priority.”