Formula E race in China cancelled due to coronavirus

Formula E

Formula E race in China cancelled due to coronavirus

It was due to take place in March

Martin Macdonald

Sunday 2 February 2020 11:49

Formula E officials have decided to cancel the upcoming race in China due to the country’s continued struggles with the coronavirus outbreak.

At the end of 2019 to now, the virus has spread to claim 304 lives, with over 14,000 cases of infection having been confirmed so far. However, it has now spread to every region in China, with travel in and out of the country being minimised in order to contain the outbreak.

Several sporting events have been cancelled, including the World Indoor Athletics Championships, and Formula E has followed suit with the race which was due to take place on the 21st March.

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"In view of the continued spread of coronavirus and after close consultation with the relevant departments of Hainan Province and Sanya Municipal Government, Formula E - together with the FIA, the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of People’s Republic of China (CAMF), and regional partner Enova Holdings - have jointly decided not to race in Sanya on the scheduled date of March 21, 2020," a FIA statement read.

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"Given the current growing health concerns and with the World Health Organisation declaring the coronavirus an international emergency, Formula E has taken the necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of its travelling staff, championship participants and spectators, which remains of paramount importance.

"We are working closely with our regional partner and the local authorities in Hainan Province and Sanya Municipal Government, to continue monitoring the situation as it develops.

"All parties will take the appropriate amount of time to study the viability of potential alternative dates should the situation improve."

The Chinese Grand Prix in Formula 1 is scheduled to take place in April, but the FIA recently released another statement saying they would take “any action” necessary in order to protect the F1 community from the outbreak.