Pandemic puts brakes on motorsport
MotorSport New Zealand is looking into how it can help its clubs cope financially after deciding to suspend all events for two months because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Following a meeting between management and the board, the organisation announced on March 19 the measure would come into immediate effect.
“MotorSport New Zealand has made the decision to suspend all MotorSport New Zealand permitted events, at all levels, initially for two months in response to the fast-evolving Covid-19 situation,” the organisation says in a statement.
“It was decided that the most important thing to consider amid Covid-19 was the safety and wellbeing of all members of our sport, those that offer their services at events, the community in general and spectators.
“MotorSport New Zealand understands the financial impact Covid-19 will have on our clubs and are actively investigating all avenues to ease the financial burden.”
While the suspension is in place until May 19, the board says it hopes the sport may be able to “return to some form of business as usual” earlier if the pandemic shows signs of improvement.
Rally succumbs to virus
Organisers of the Otago Rally have pulled the pin on the event scheduled for April 3-5 after admitting it will not be “practical or socially responsible” to stage the race.
They are examining whether the rally can go ahead later in 2020, but if not they vow that the event will definitely be held in 2021.
Officials had been optimistic the competition could have been run safely by adopting measures to minimise crowd sizes and public gatherings, but the escalating Covid-19 crisis forced them into making the decision to postpone.
The Otago Rally was set to be the opening round of the national rally championship, which is next due for action at the Rally of Whangarei on May 9-10.
Meanwhile, Supercars has put the New Zealand round of the 2020 Australian championship on hold and there is uncertainty where and when that event will now take place.
The event on April 24-26 was initially meant to happen at Pukekohe Park Raceway, but changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan mean motorsport cannot be held at the track on Anzac Day and the racing was shifted to Hampton Downs.
Supercars officials hope to slot the Kiwi round into the schedule later in the year, which may see the action revert to Pukekohe. Championship races set for Tasmania and Perth have also been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak.
