The FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship has been abandoned for 2020, as the cancellation of Rally du Valais triggered the removal of its championship status.
The historic championship’s season opener, Rally Costa Brava, was stripped of its FIA championship status ahead of its March 13-14 date after blocking Italian crews from participating in the rally.
Rally Costa Brava was canceled shortly thereafter, and the next four rounds of the season – Rally Sanremo Historic, Hungary’s Rally Mecsek, Lahti Historic Rally in Finland and Rally Weiz were subsequently called off.
Four rounds had remained on the calendar until recently, but Rally du Valais’ recent cancellation brought the number of events down to only three.
“The direct consequences of the COVID-19 situation are affecting the Historic Racing community as the ever-expanding travel restrictions are preventing drivers, the majority of whom are amateurs, from travelling abroad,” read a statement from the FIA.
“This has meant that the international status of certain events is becoming less relevant from a pure sporting point of view, while for the organizers, the conditions for setting up historic events that bring together different national and international grids are getting more complex.”
“Furthermore, specifically in Rally, the recent cancellation of the Rallye International du Valais has brought the number of remaining rounds (three) below the minimum set by the Championship Sporting Regulations to grant titles.”
