The World Rally Championship season finale in Japan stays scheduled to go on in spite of the fact that coordinators are continually monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 condition in the country.
Japan is set to host the championship’s final round from 11-14 November albeit the rising number of COVID-19 cases has brought about confirmation this week that October’s Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix will be cancelled for a second consecutive year.
MotoGP has already scoured its Japanese GP from its calendar earlier this year before the current week’s decision to cancel the Malaysian Grand Prix, the two events intended to be run in October.
The news went before affirmation that GT and F3 World Cup races at Macau from 17-21 November have likewise been cancelled as the Asian region keeps on doing combating the impacts of the pandemic.
WRC has so far stayed away from any COVID-19 actuated calendar purges this season however a visit to Japan could prove dangerous.
The way things are, WRC personnel would be needed to embrace a 14-day quarantine upon entry to Japan, which would be doable given the current calendar structure – the past event being Rally Spain held across 14-17 October.
For the moment Rally Japan stays planned to proceed with the WRC affirming to Autosport that it is working closely with rally coordinators FORUM8.
“We continue to work with FORUM8 Rally Japan organizers, alongside national and local authorities, to ensure the safe and successful holding of the event – just as we do with all events on the WRC calendar in these challenging times,” read a statement from Simon Larkin, WRC senior event director.
“We will make decisions based on the conditions related to WRC.”
Nonetheless, should Rally Japan to drop off the schedule, Motorsport.com’s Italian edition has detailed that Rally Monza could fill the empty final round slot, as it did last year when it finished up an altogether decreased 2020 season because of COVID-19.
The WRC is set to visit Greece for its next round of the championship with the return of the Acropolis Rally from 9-12 September.
In spite of the nation suffering from wildfires, Autosport comprehends getting ready for the event is going on as would be expected with the planned rally route situated away from the influenced regions.
An entry list for the renowned gravel event has been released which has uncovered Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta will indeed be joined by Keaton Williams in the co-driver seat, as he looks set to keep on stand in for the injured Daniel Barritt.