Arendonk gets green light. World RX Esports contest starts.

26 March    The Glosso Circuit at Arendonk wins its prolonged campaign to be allowed to reinstate the original track and operate rallycross events. In a short statement the management of the track said: “We received our approved environmental permit from the Provincial Executive of the Province of Antwerp. This permit includes imperative alleviating measures and is valid for an indefinite period. However, as a non-profit organisation we do need some four months to implement these measures. It is our aim to draw up a race schedule as soon as possible, have the opening of our circuit take place, while organising a number of races. We are also dependent on the corona measures here. We are following the situation closely and will be starting as soon as proves possible.” In recent years activity at the track has been restricted to the ‘regional’ VAS series and local events, and those on a shortened version of the original 950-metre track. The high point of the life of the track were four visits by the FIA European Rallycross Championship between 1984 and 1993. All four events were won by Martin Schanche, the first coming at the wheel of his Xtrac Escort in ’84 and the last by its genetic descendent in 1993. Between those victories, Schanche claimed two wins with Ford RS200s in 1987 and 1990. That 1987 event was also the scene of a remarkable piece of driving by Trevor Reeves who, having been spun through 180-degrees by Kamiel Vereeken slammed his Sierra Cosworth into reverse gear and raced backwards up the following section of track.

27 March    World RX launches Esports events in conjunction with Motorsport Games and Codemasters. A series of events are planned to take place on the dates of rounds of the FIA World Rallycross Championship that are postponed because of the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. The events will range World RX drivers with guest racers and fans and gamers who can win a starting place in qualifying events. Over 8500 players took part in the qualifying events for round one of the series. Set to take place on the original race date for the postponed World RX series opener in Barcelona, 19 April, the event will be live-streamed. “We hope that by offering fans around the world the chance to engage with World RX via an alternative Esports series, we are providing a small level of enjoyment in these difficult times,” said World RX boss Paul Bellamy. 

27 March    The first two rounds of the Norwegian Rallycross Championship are postponed and rescheduled. The events at Gardemoen and Grenland will now take place on 11-12 July and 29-30 August respectively. 

31 March    Rallycross France organiser AFOR issues a statement to say that it is working as hard as possible to be able to organise the best possible season of French Rallycross Championship events when racing is possible in 2020. “We have put no scenario aside, I want you to know that we will do our best … in close collaboration with the organisers and the FFSA … and come back, all together, stronger than ever. We will  … in due course propose a new calendar,” said AFOR President Jean-Jacques Benezet.

1 April    The Swedish Sports Federation calls a halt to all events after the national Health Authority places a ban on gathering of more than 50 people. Prior to this there had a been a hope that some motor sport events in Sweden might be possible. Across the border in Norway the ASN is preparing new guidance for ‘limited training’ after the Norwegian Directorate of Health introduced new guidelines permitting limited organised training. The permission will not extend to competitive events.

Finally this week, a video from one of the very few rallycross events that did take place this year, the first round the Belgian Championship at Maasmechelen on 8 March.