The World Endurance Championship just sent out a press release informing everyone it has canceled the 1,000-miles of Sebring race which was scheduled to run on March 20, 2020. The press release cited the recent suspension of travel by President Trump of non-US citizens from Europe to the USA.
The WEC’s website states, “Following the announcement made by President Trump at 9.00 pm (EST) on 11th March of a wide suspension of travel by non-US citizens from Europe to the USA, the leadership of the WEC has reviewed the viability of staging the Sebring 1000 Miles race planned to be held at Sebring on 20th March. After a careful review of the situation, it has been determined that the WEC race will be canceled.”
- Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller were scheduled to wield the all-new C8.R during the race in an attempt to gain valuable track time and testing for the upcoming Le Mans race in June. Photo: Richard Prince Photography
The website goes on to state, “Given a large number of drivers, team staff and officials who are still in Europe and who were scheduled to travel to the USA in the coming days, it would not be possible or appropriate to stage the race in their absence.”
While all of the race cars and equipment had already been shipped to the Sebring facilities and testing scheduled to begin in just two days, many of the European drivers were just making their way to the States to get behind the wheels of their designated rides. The travel ban was instituted to limit the US’s exposure to the Coronavirus and to limit its spread from across the border. The WEC is now in the process of expediting the shipment of all the equipment and race cars back to the respective teams.
- Many of the competitors’ cars have already been shipped to the Sebring International Raceway in preparation for testing and racing. The WEC is now working to return all of the equipment and cars back to the teams. Photo: Richard Prince Photography
IMSA reported that the 12-hour race which was to be held on the same day as the 1,000-mile contest is not canceled but will be postponed until November, according to a press release sent out today which read, “The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) announced today that the 68th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts scheduled for March 18-21, 2020 has been postponed due to the recent United States ban on travel from Europe… The rescheduled race will now become the season-ending event of the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and will be run Nov. 11-14, 2020 at Sebring International Raceway. The weekend will also feature the rescheduled IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge – Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 and the IMSA Prototype Challenge season-ending races.
Chevrolet was hoping to use the 1,000-mile race as another shake-down run to help prepare the all-new C8.R Corvette for a run at the up-coming 24-Hours of Le Mans race which is scheduled to occur on June 13,
SOURCE; LSX Mag Bolig
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