Cancellations: No Swiss rallies in 2020 🎥

AND SOMIT NO SM STATUS It had been hoped for a long time, but now it is clear: Neither the Rally Ronde Ticino nor the traditional finale in Valais will take place in the fall. Thus, no SM title in automobile racing will be awarded in 2020. The dynamic montage of some action scenes from the track and the atmosphere on the sidelines of the 60th Rallye du Valais 2019 made [...]

Editorial - August 19, 2020

The dynamic montage of some action scenes from the track and the atmosphere on the sidelines of the 60th Rallye du Valais 2019 whetted the appetite for this year's event.

The faint hope existed, and we had also expressed it in the latest print edition of AutoSprintCH. Even though, at the time of going to press, there were already some doubts as to whether the event would be held.

Now there is certainty: Both the organizer of the Rally Ronde del Ticino, which had already postponed its event from June to September 25/26, and the Rallye International du Valais (planned for October 15-17) have cancelled their races.

"Covid edition" makes no sense
After evaluating all conditions, measures and remaining possibilities, the health and financial risk was too great for both organizers.

The Valais-based company had also considered a "Covid edition", but abandoned the idea. In the process, the barracks area in Sion could not have been included as a paddock and rally center, nor for the popular spectator special stage.

Goodbye next year. The 61st staging of the oldest Swiss rally will be postponed until 2021.

The Ticino will postpone its 23rd edition to June 25-26, 2021, while the Valais will postpone its 61st edition to the date of October 21-23, 2021. And Auto Sport Switzerland will thus not award another Rally Championship title until next year.

Only one more rally in France
The only event remaining on the calendar of all the 2020 National Automobile Championships is the Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine near the border from September 3 to 5. This also counts towards the Rally Championship of France.

Participants and also spectators have to meet strict safety requirements in order for the Rally Mont-Blanc Morzine to take place.

As can be heard from the French side, the echo from Swiss teams is rather low. This is also indicated by the registrations for the Clio R3T Alps Trophy: Of the eleven teams registered so far, only one comes from Switzerland.

Too few entries for slalom in Alsace
Unfortunately, the slalom drivers are not spared from further cancellations. The ACS Zurich held on to its LOC slalom on 29 August on the Anneau du Rhin in Alsace near the border, taking into account the necessary safety measures.

With the exception of the Suzuki and Lotus drivers, however, only a very small number of participants had registered. Therefore, the Zurich team is forced to cancel its slalom for the first time in 14 years. August 28 has been reserved as the date for 2021.