The European Rally Championship calendar has been reshuffled again, with Rally Liepāja now provisionally set to begin the season due Rally Poland being postponed.
With the original date of June 26-28 falling within the period of government restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Rally Poland organizers, Polish Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (PZM), were left with no alternative other than to announce the event’s postponement.
PZM is now working in partnership with ERC promoter Eurosport Events and governing body the FIA to try to find a new date in the calendar with the intention of making an announcement before the end of May.
It is hoped that much of the extensive planning undertaken with the original June date in mind will be transferable to a revised calendar slot.
Jean-Baptiste Ley, the ERC Co-ordinator, said: “We are in discussions with PZM and the FIA to finalize a replacement date for 77th Rally Poland. Once all the arrangements are in place and when it is appropriate to do so we will make a further announcement regarding the event’s rescheduling.
“Until then we offer our thanks to all drivers, teams, fans and stakeholders for their continued support and patience. And we urge everyone to stay safe at home.”
Krzysztof Maciejewski, the Clerk of the Course of Rally Poland, added: “Our preparations for the rally are well advanced, in practice being completed.
“Before the restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic were introduced, we did almost all the field work, even ahead of the schedule. Unfortunately, the last days have not brought optimistic information, restrictions on entering the country were extended, hotels and air transport do not operate.
“We have to respect the restrictions, hoping that compliance with them will improve the epidemiological situation in the near future. We decided to postpone the date of our rally because, at this stage, it seems to be the only logical solution.
“Obviously, we hope that the conditions to run the 77th Rally Poland will occur this season. Thank you to all those who have devoted their time and effort to the preparation of the event and I hope that we will meet in Mikołajki this year.”
The ERC season will therefore now begin no earlier than July 10-12, the revised date set for Rally Liepāja, with the second round in Rome falling two weeks later.
