Season Opener Could Move Due to Coronavirus

Photo: Dirk Bogaerts/SRO

SRO Motorsports Group has revealed a contingency plan in case it cannot host the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS opener at Monza due to the outbreak of coronavirus in Italy.

The outbreak of Covid-19 (coronavirus) originated in China but has spread globally, with Italy the first European country to feel a major impact.

The country had more than 250 registered cases as of Monday, with most in the Lombardy region, which includes Monza Eni Circuit.

Monza is set to host a three-hour GTWC Europe race on April 19, but the SRO has admitted there is a risk of forced cancelation.

If the event is canceled, the existing Sprint Cup round at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Oct. 9-11 will become the fifth and final race of the Endurance Cup season, while its place on the Sprint Cup schedule would be filled by a round at Imola on Oct. 31 – Nov. 1.

The GT World Challenge Asia schedule currently remains unaltered, with no threat to races at the moment. The first round will be held at Sepang on March 28-29.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.