Press release from the Ministry of Sports – Should we be alarmed?

If we knew that sporting events bringing together more than 5 people in the same place cannot be held before September », the press release sent this morning by the Ministry of Sports sent a shiver down the spines of motorsport actors and fans.

And for good reason, everyone hopes that the competition will be able to resume its rights as quickly as possible, even behind closed doors. The survival of certain promoters and teams depends on it. The reason ? This sentence : " At this stage, the Ministry of Sports specifies that no sporting competition can take place before August, including behind closed doors. »

For information, this morning, we told you that the first three words “ At this stage » were not to be neglected. However, this afternoon, the Minister of Sports Roxanna Maracineanu assured on the Twitter feed of the National Assembly that these bans could be postponed but not advanced, whatever the way the deconfinement takes place, of which phase 1 will be launched , in France, May 11.

But several elements make us think that it is good to wait before giving in to panic. First of all, no promoter has, since the publication of the press release, announced any cancellation. We think in particular of theELMS, which is due to open on July 19 with the 4 Hours of Le Castellet, and at the French Circuit Championship, the first round of which is scheduled for August 28 to 30, at Nogaro, scene of the Easter Cups.

In reality, this sentence cited above does not mean much. But it goes without saying that it would be difficult today, when the French State is groping its way forward and recommending caution, to communicate on the continuation of these summer events.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Sports will receive the different federations this Monday, who will each present their recovery plans. If a decision had already been taken, they would not have been asked to work on such a plan and a decree would have already been published, which is not the case.

All the federations are therefore currently working to refine theirs. For motor sports, this also affects the karting, as motorcycles and cars – for leisure or at a high level – without forgetting the driving schools.

Finally, this press release seems more aimed at practitioners of sports that could be described as “traditional”, individual and even more collective. The fact remains that motor racing is not a contact sport (even if the question of rally, where a pilot and co-pilot are separated by less than one meter). However, a gradual resumption of activities in the commercial field of sport (auto circuit, racecourses, etc.) was mentioned from May 11 with the objective of reopening everything from June 15, as it is considered to have high added value on an economic level. , tourism and health. A complete recovery, but always within the framework of health doctrine.

Horse racing, in fact, could apparently resume behind closed doors around mid-May, a few days after phase 1 of deconfinement was launched. According to a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food “ the Presidents of the parent companies and the leaders of the PMU informed the ministers of their desire to initiate a resumption of horse racing from May 11, 2020, behind closed doors without welcoming the public, and by putting in place validated health instructions by public authorities and adapted to the circumstances. The ministers are committed to supporting this request from the health authorities. » But the actors there are Franco-French, which is not the case for a championship like the ELMS. It remains to be seen whether it will be possible to travel to France from abroad with an exceptional international travel certificate for travel for professional reasons.

United circuit front 

So why not motor sports? This plan would not displease those responsible for the various circuits in France, who show a united face. 

The French circuits held a videoconference on the afternoon of April 30 in order to gather information, but also to prepare for post-confinement, in the absence of clear directives set out by the Ministry of Sports at the moment.

“This is an unprecedented situation, States Caroline Diviès, Director of the Nogaro Circuit (Gers). We don't know where we're going, but the government doesn't know any more. There are adjustments to be made, the Ministry of Sports must not only think about football. We hear anything and everything, but we will eventually come to terms with what the State wants.

Protocols are being created by the different federations (FFSA for cars, FFM for motorcycles), with precise health guidelines. Now we will have to find accommodations. When I see that the Nogaro supermarket accommodates 200 people in a closed space, I would like someone to explain to me why my commercial enterprise of 150 hectares in the open air cannot accommodate more than a handful of people? »

Less flashy but more important for the financial health of the circuits, the fate of track days remains suspended. “We must not forget that circuits are above all businesses,” continues Caroline Diviès. We don't spend our time organizing races; the majority of our activity is daily driving (including track days)."

As it currently stands, no circuit reopening in France has been recorded. To do this, we will have to wait for the deconfinement map, with the departments colored in red or green depending on the implementation of Covid-19, which will be published on May 7. From this date, a new point between all French circuits will be made and we should have a more precise direction at the end of next week.

“We will all speak with one voice, continues Caroline Diviès, who prefers to rejoice in the attitude of her fellow circuit bosses in the midst of the crisis. “ In the end, it is the prefectures which will issue the authorizations or not. (reopening). However, the Federations and circuits consider that licensed drivers and motorcyclists have the status of professionals. A professional has the right to do his job, and could therefore move between departments to join a circuit, the departments being in the green zone of course. »

Finally, the scenario for the 2020 Easter Cups has not yet been decided. The boss of the Paul-Armagnac route, however, remains attached to the presence, even greatly reduced, of the public at the end of August. “We may have to give a few fewer entry tickets to the teams, so that we still have a quota for the public. It would be sold out, but with spectators. We would limit the damage. Everyone wants to start again. »