Rallying: Argentina cancelled, Estonia to re-start WRC season in September

World Rally Championship (WRC) organisers cancelled Argentina’s postponed round on Thursday while announcing the season, halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, would re-start in Estonia in September.*

FILE PHOTO: Jun 13, 2019; Alghero, Sardegna, Italy; WRC driver Sebastien Ogier (FRA) drifts a corner during the shakedown stage on day 1 of Rally Italia Sardegna.

REUTERS: World Rally Championship (WRC) organisers cancelled Argentina’s postponed round on Thursday while announcing the season, halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, would re-start in Estonia in September.

It will be the first time Estonia, home of reigning world champion Ott Taenak, has featured on the WRC calendar. The short-format gravel rally based around Tartu is scheduled for Sept. 4-6.

The revised schedule published on Thursday sees Turkey following on from Estonia on Sept. 24-27.

Germany’s round will be on Oct. 15-18, with Italy (Sardinia) on Oct. 29-Nov. 1 after being postponed from June while Japan is scheduled to end the season on Nov. 19-22.

Rallies in Belgium and Croatia could also feature with talks ongoing.

The championship completed three rounds in Monte-Carlo, Sweden and Mexico before the new coronavirus sent countries into lockdown.

Six times world champion Sebastien Ogier leads the standings for Toyota.

“Today’s restart announcement sends a clear signal that the 2020 WRC is back in business,” said WRC promoter managing director Oliver Ciesla in a statement.

FIA rally director Yves Matton said he was confident there would be a minimum of eight rallies this year.