IMSA Looks to Resume Racing at Watkins Glen in June But Obstacles Remain

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IMSA Looks to Resume Racing at Watkins Glen in June But Obstacles Remain

Photo Credit: Keith Cornett


IMSA president John Doonan held a conference call on Wednesday and according to Racer.com he said: “We are still focused on going racing at Watkins Glen at the end of June.” That race is Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen scheduled for June 25-28th.

The new IMSA president also addressed several other issues noting that the event schedule for 2020 was likely to be shortened as a cost-saving measure for teams. Calling it a “sincere sensitivity to costs,” Doonan says that “Some teams have received funds from the CARES Act, but not all.” (The CARES Act is the small-business stimulus package that has added two rounds of funding for those businesses that qualify.)

Doonan also sees the possibility of fans coming to the races with those venues with large expansive areas like Watkins Glen and Road America allowing plenty of social distancing.

The other main issue the series has to overcome is about getting those teams and competitors from overseas into the USA for the late June race. Doonan says 40% of the paddock travels to the USA to work and drive in the IMSA series. Doonan says “International border closures, state to state, and corporate travel is very restricted at this moment,” he said. “Our paddock is also affected by international travel.

Lastly, there is currently a testing ban for the WeatherTech Championship series but Racer.com notes that some classes could get permission to start testing in a few weeks.

As a recap, here is the current revised schedule for the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech Championship. Also, note that the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been moved to September 19-20.

Jan. 22-26 — Rolex 24 at Daytona
June 25-28 — Six Hours of The Glen
July 3-5 — Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
July 17-18 — Lime Rock Park
July 31 – Aug. 2 — Road America
Aug. 21-23 — Virginia International Raceway
Sept. 4-6 — WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Sept. 25-27 — Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Oct. 14-17 — Motul Petit Le Mans
Nov. 11-14 — Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring


Source:
Racer.com

Related:
IMSA Revises the 2020 Racing Schedule
The 24 Hours of Le Mans Is Postponed to September 19-20th
The Twelve Hours of Sebring is Postponed To November Over Coronavirus, Travel Ban

 



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1 COMMENT

  1. So is the championship going to be decided at PLM in October or Sebring in November?
    No offense to racing, and I love racing and miss it, but how the heck can a race team score CARES Act loans when the local café or dry cleaner mom & pop find out all the loan money is gone when they apply?

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