China ePrix officially postponed due to coronavirus outbreak

The FIA may be billing it as postponed but it is more likely that Formula E won’t be heading to China at all this season after the powers-that-be decided “not to race” in Sanya in March.

The decision was made as the death toll for the coronavirus climbed to over 360.

March’s ePrix postponed

Formula E was meant to head to Sanya on 21 March to race around the streets for round four of the 2019/20 Formula E Championship.

That, though, has been postponed.

The coronavirus outbreak has forced the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, and Chinese officials to make the call in order to protect teams, drivers and fans alike.

They are hoping to potentially find an “alternative date” for the race.

‘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,’ read the FIA statement.

‘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 race was scheduled for 21 March.

No word yet on F1’s Chinese Grand Prix

The FIA and Formula 1 bosses have yet to decide whether the Chinese F1 Grand Prix will go ahead in April.

Although the race is scheduled for a month after the ePrix, the 19th, medical experts have cast doubt over whether China, and the world as a whole, will have managed the outbreak by then.

According to Speedweek.com, Chinese GP organisers are trying to do a deal with Russia to swap places on the calendar.

The Russian GP only takes place in late September.

However, the report claims that the ‘Russian Automobile Association has not yet received a formal request’.

Even if Russia does give the go-ahead, the swap would then have to be approved by the FIA and the World Motor Sport Council.

Vietnam F1 GP also under threat

While it is only China that has cancelled sporting events to date, Vietnam officials say they are also following proceedings.

Hanoi is scheduled to make its Formula 1 debut on 5 April but given that it borders China, questions are being raised about safety.

For now officials says it will go ahead.

“We are actively monitoring the situation as it develops,” an official told RaceFans.

“For now we don’t anticipate any significant impact on our April event. We will continue to work with our relevant authorities to closely monitor the situation.”