Bethonie WaringThe Sanya E-Prix is set to go ahead, Formula E have confirmed, after a government instruction seemed to put the event in jeopardy.
China’s Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports issued a statement announcing the cancellation of a car rally, “in accordance with the instruction from the General Administration of Sport on suspending all sports competitions until April”.
A coronavirus outbreak in China has led to the cancellation of a number of events, including many Luna New Year celebrations. There is also a clampdown on transport in affected areas.
The suspension would have put the Sanya E-Prix, which is scheduled for March 21, in jeopardy.
However, Formula E have told Just Electric the event is scheduled to go ahead as planned, and the statement which initially caused the confusion included “misleading information and has since been removed”.
“As it stands, the race in Sanya on March 21 is still scheduled to go ahead as planned,” a spokesperson said. “The uncertainty stemmed from an incorrect statement issued locally in China, which published wrong and misleading information and has since been removed.
“Given the current health concerns, we are continuing to closely monitor the sitation as it develops on a daily basis. We have requested that our regional partner works together with the local motorsport federation, to liaise with the relevant authorities in Hainan province to further analyse and assess the situation and provide recommendations on preperations for the race.”
The 2020 Sanya E-Prix will be Formula E’s second visit to the city, with Jean-Eric Vergne winning the inaugural event in 2019.
