A draft 2021 calendar and cost control measures for the 2020 recovery

We thought that the calendar WRC 2020, revised and corrected due to the coronavirus pandemic and the cancellations and postponements pronounced, would be one of the main information from the World Motor Sport Council this Friday.

However, we will have to wait a little longer to know the definitive face of the end of the 2020 season. Several European rallies, including Estonia, Latvia and Ypres have all confirmed more or less advanced discussions with the promoter of the World Championship, but no decision has yet been taken.

The FIA, on the other hand, presented a first provisional calendar for the 2021 season, with nine events already recorded, including the Safari Rally, Finland, Portugal and Italy, all canceled or postponed (the latter case for the Sardinian round, which seems in the running to join the revamped 2020 program).

We note the return of Spain (on asphalt) and the presence of Australia with a new location, unlike New Zealand, canceled this year, but for the moment not in the game, as organizers get ready for next year. No trace of France either, nor of Wales Rally GB or Mexico. Here are the nine rounds already confirmed for 2021:

Monte Carlo
Finland
Portugal
Sweden
Safari Rally
Spain
Italy
Japan
Australia

Control costs

The FIA ​​governing bodies have indeed validated measures aimed at controlling costs for the relaunch of the current season. If the upcoming calendar offered less than eight rounds (the three already run plus five others), the WRC teams would only be able to use two engines, compared to three currently.

Furthermore, testing preceding the European rounds would be limited to one day per driver entered by a manufacturer registered in the championship. Two measures approved by the championship competitors.