From 6pm (18:00 hrs) on the 2nd January a number of regions within France were placed under an extended curfew, in an attempt by the local French Government Authorities to fight the increasing levels of COVID-19 amid the global pandemic which is increasingly affecting many parts of not just France but Europe. Home of our 7 times World Champ Seb Ogier, the region of the Southern Alpes and the City of GAP for which plays host to the Rallye Monte Carlo is included in this curfew.
It is perhaps time that we remove our favouritism bias hat for our home event and address the question that the majority of British Rally fans appear to have been avoiding and quite frankly bluntly refusing to even consider over the past couple of months.
Following the cancellation of Rally Sweden, The FIA and WRC promoter (Red Bull) begun to explore the possibilities of an alternative winter snow rally in place of Sweden. Finland was contacted about this a few weeks ago and various negotiations have now taken place.
The Arctic Lapland Rally (or Fell Rally as locally known), which runs around Rovaniemi, was initially singled out as a candidate for a Swedish replacement but alas is likely to still run at its original planned January date.
The latest that we are hearing is that even Northern Ireland has been unable to gain the approval for Government funding for a potential round of the 2021 FIA World Rally Championship in August. So it is increasing looking likely that there will be no British round full stop.
Rallye Sweden is in jeopardy from COVID-9 event and the northern region of Finland’s is suggested as a possible alternative.
For a few days now the rumour began to grow legs that next season Finland could host two rally’s in the 2021 FIA World Rally Championship. The reason? The current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden.
In light of the ongoing Pandemic that still affects many parts of the globe, Rallye Sweden which finances itself through the sale of tickets & passes could be forfeited from the 2021 FIA World Rally Championships. It is believed that the likelihood of COVID-19 still affecting the region of Värmland where the rally takes place is increasing and thus the organisers fear that the vital spectators that are needed to pay for the event maybe forbidden to attend.
