A World Rally Champion can be crowned after this weekend’s Rally Italy if the final two rounds of the series are lost to coronavirus.
In the face of rising coronavirus numbers and the potential for further global travel restrictions – especially those raised by Sébastien Ogier earlier this week – DirtFish raised the question of what would happen if the series was restricted to six rounds, with this week’s Alghero event concluding the 2020 action.
FIA rally director Yves Matton confirmed to DirtFish on Saturday that, in such a scenario, the championship would be awarded.
Matton said: “I think we have some proper battles from the last events. The rules are quite clear: if tomorrow’s situation is like that [and rounds seven and eight are canned], we will award the title for the World Rally Championship, yes.”
The WRC calendar returned after a six-month coronavirus-enforced absence to Rally Estonia in September. Rally Turkey followed later last month before this week’s Rally Italy was run on a date delayed from June.
Belgium’s Ypres Rally is the next event next month with the Monza Rally now confirmed for December.
Talking about travel to Belgium from Germany, Ogier pointed out: “I haven’t had any rumor or information in terms of the actual rally, it’s just a general viewpoint that the country is classed as a, I don’t know how you would call it, a red zone, a risk zone.
“And I know that, for example, my wife is going there next weekend for the DTM and the Germans, by and large, are unable to send anyone, it’s forbidden.
“So, I say to myself that it’ll be difficult to do it.
“Someone like Hyundai, who are based in Germany, it might be difficult for them, in terms of logistics getting there. But I think we’re still in an unknown position.”
