Covid-19: Le Mans 24 Hours Motorcycles postponed

2021-04-02T21:07:39.186Z

The 24 Heures Motos du Mans will not take place on the weekend in mid-April due to the pandemic. A postponement date is nevertheless under consideration. 

The 44th edition of the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans (Sarthe), scheduled for April 17 and 18, is postponed indefinitely due to the health context, organizers said in press releases on Friday.

“Canceling the 24 Heures Motos is a particularly difficult decision,” said Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest.

Unfortunately, the current health context does not allow us to guarantee our standards in terms of organization.

I have a special thought for all the medical staff, particularly in demand for over a year now.

We are working tirelessly to find a fallback date for this 44th edition. ”

Such a context "does not allow the event to be held in the necessary safety conditions" for the drivers, jointly explain the promoter Eurosport Events and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, for the Le Mans circuit.

Regarding the future postponement date of the event, "a communication will be made on this subject in the next ten days", it is specified.

The French Grand Prix maintained on the scheduled dates

It had already been announced at the end of January that the event would take place behind closed doors this year.

Last year, it was postponed from mid-April to the end of August.

The Bugatti circuit at Le Mans is also due to host the French motorcycle Grand Prix from May 14 to 16.

"The event is being held on the dates originally scheduled," organizers said in a statement earlier on Friday.

“A decision will be made in mid-April as to the possibility or not of welcoming the public, and under what conditions.

This decision will be taken in agreement with the competent authorities and will be based on the rules established by the Ministry of Sports and by the Prefecture of Sarthe. ”

In motorsport, at the beginning of March, the 89th 24 Hours of Le Mans, scheduled for June 12 and 13, were postponed to August 21 and 22 to “give ourselves every opportunity to welcome the public” in the context of the Covid crisis. 19.