The ongoing global Covid19 pandemic has once again struck the 2020 World Rally Championship. Belgium’s first time hosting the WRC, with Rally Ypres playing host on 19th-22nd November would have been the first full tarmac event on the calendar. The event characterised by fast flowing stages around the flats of the Belgian countryside.
Event organisers following consultation with the Belgian authorities were left with no choice but to pre-emptively cancel the event. Europe is currently in the throes of the second wave of Covid19, other series have already fallen prey with the NLS series cancelling it’s final 2 rounds due to sharply rising infections all over Europe.
The cancellation of Rally Ypres leaves just 1 event left on the calendar for Rally Monza. It also hands a lifeline to championship leader Elfyn Evans, but massively impacts Sebastien Ogier, Thierry Neuville & Ott Tanak’s championship bids. Ogier will need to score an additional 15 points more than Evans at Monza to win the title. Tanak & Neuville mathematically can still win, but would need a retirement from Evans & Ogier to score a low number of points, making the Hyundai drivers wildcards for the title.
The next round of the championship will be Rally Monza 4th-6th December at this stage. In the meantime, stay safe.
