Lohéac back in 2021?

The outbreak of the coronavirus has disrupted sport as a whole this year. Thus, the different disciplines had to adapt to the constraints posed by the health crisis. Among them, the Rallycross. The 2020 season has been turned upside down and its calendar has been scrutinized again.

This resulted in a nine-match campaign after cancellations along the way by Portugal and Belgium. In the midst of all this slump, one big absentee stood out: Lohéac. For economic and organizational reasons, the Breton channel had to resolve to throw in the towel since even a postponement was not " not possible, even behind closed doors » underlines Patrick Germain, president of the association organizing the said event.

Lohéac is therefore already looking towards 2021 and hopefully a brighter new year. If the goal is to welcome all the elite of Rallycross for a seventh world edition, the organizers want to protect their backs.

« We have officially submitted an application to AFOR on the condition that we will not be involved again in the world or European championship, explains the president of the association. If there is no new world championship, having remained a member of AFOR, Lohéac would organize a round of the French championship. We never left our French rallycross family »

No closed doors

Luckily, " the FIA ​​has confirmed that there will be a WRX championship » in 2021. « We had a meeting with the Federation (Friday November 13. Editor’s note) to validate the dates proposed for the calendar, which will be examined at the World Council in December. We chose September 4 and 5, 2021 corresponding to the first weekend of the month », historical date of the meeting.

All that remains is to wait for the arrival of the new promoter since the current one, IMG, announced its departure at the end of 2020. Once this is recorded, there would be “ a transmission of the contract as is or a new one would be negotiated », explains Patrick Germain. As a reminder, this runs until the end of 2021.

not having “ not spent money » this year after having “ stopped the machines very early », Lohéac stands ready to welcome again the world or French Rallycross if the situation changes in the future. However, Patrick Germain specifies that the new edition “cannot take place behind closed doors”. With the economic model relying largely on spectators, the event cannot afford not to welcome the public after a blank year in 2020.