Pre-season testing relocated to Hockenheim due to coronavirus

The spread of the coronavirus in Europe, and more particularly in the main focus in Lombardy in Italy, is increasingly being felt in motorsport.

In a region where several municipalities close to Milan are placed in quarantine, the Monza track will not host the pre-season testing of the DTM German, initially scheduled from March 16 to 18 at the legendary autodrome.

ITR, promoter of the series, has confirmed that the preparation runs for the season, will finally take place in Hockenheim, from March 16 to 19, thus adding one more day of testing compared to the initial program.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that the spread and containment around the coronavirus is sadly affecting society in many different and profound ways, semphasizes Marcel Mohaupt, general manager of ITR.

With everyone's safety and well-being at the forefront of our thinking, we have made the decision to move our pre-season testing to another location. We are extremely grateful to everyone at Monza and Hockenheim for their cooperation in this area. »

The Monza meeting, counting for the championship, is still scheduled for June 26 to 28. ITR is not the only organizer to take measures in the face of the Covid-19 coronavirus, since GT Sport, behind which the GT Open is notably hidden, has canceled its winter tests in Barcelona next week.

SRO Motorsports, organizer of GT World Challenge Europe, has already indicated a potential reorganization of its 2020 Endurance Cup calendar, in case its opening round of Monza, scheduled for April 17-19, had to be canceled.