Breaking news
General
Motorsport Australia outlines return strategy
Motorsport Australia has unveiled its strategy to help facilitate a return to competition amid the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
Andrew van Leeuwen
Edited: May 11, 2020, 3:11 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The 'Return to Race' document offers detail into how the Australian governing body will approach a return to all disciplines of motorsport, based on six key principles.
Those principles are government guidelines, good hygiene, social distancing, restriction, monitoring and education, training and resources.
They cover a range of measures including not sharing equipment and tools, minimising group catering, avoiding indoor areas, conducting meetings such as drivers' briefings and media conferences online, limiting personnel, and not allowing people with symptoms, or anyone who has returned from overseas in the past fortnight, at events.
Spectators will not be permitted as per the Return to Race strategy.
There will also be a dedicated COVID-19 Checker required at every event to make sure the guidelines are being adhered to.
According to the document nearly all disciplines have been approved under Level B restrictions (no greater than 10 people with spacing of at least one person per square metre. Minimal equipment sharing) and Level C (full sporting activity. Limited unnecessary gatherings. Hygiene measures to remain in place).
Motorsport Australia has sent the strategy to federal and state and territory governments.
"Motorsport is unlike any other sport," said Motorsport Australia CEO Eugene Arocca.
"We certainly believe it’s a low-risk sport when it comes to any potential transmission of COVID-19 given that motorsport is conducted outdoors, usually on a large site area.
“However, that doesn’t mean we can just go back to running events as we previously did. Return To Race clearly outlines all steps our event organisers, officials and competitors should take to make our events as safe as possible based on the framework put forward by the federal government.
“This strategy outlines the importance of avoiding gatherings or meetings, instead using technology such as Zoom to host drivers’ briefings for example. We’re also providing other key steps that event organisers, officials and competitors need to take to ensure everyone’s health and safety, depending on their role.
“While drivers may be ‘cocooned’ in their vehicles when on track or on a stage, there are obviously many other things that need to be considered before an event can go ahead.
"This includes understanding how to manage a busy pit lane, scrutineering and of course our managing officials scattered across an event site who often need to work in small groups.
"The Return To Race document addresses those concerns to ensure event organisers are aware of their responsibilities."
There are still no hard returns to competition locked in, although the Northern Territory will allow motor racing to resume from this Friday.
Restrictions are also beginning to ease in other parts of country, giving hope to a swift resumption of state-level racing.
National championships like Supercars, however, will still need to wait on the easing of state borders restrictions in places like Queensland, the NT, South Australia and Western Australia.
Motorsport.com understands next month's Winton and Townsville Supercars rounds are highly unlikely to go ahead, with Sydney Motorsport Park an option to stage a resumption to the 2020 season on the first weekend in July.
Supercars is expected to unveil more detail on its revised 2020 schedule this Friday.
The full Return to Race document can be viewed here.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article COVID-19 could impact UK racing for two to three years – Palmer
Next article Motor Valley Fest moves online to restart Italy's engine
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Andrew van Leeuwen
Toby Price explains 'unfortunate' Mitsubishi split
Dakar
Dakar
Dakar
Toby Price explains 'unfortunate' Mitsubishi split
Supercars parity review begins
Supercars
Supercars
Supercars parity review begins
SRO set for bigger Australian GT presence
GT World Challenge Australia
GT World Challenge Australia
SRO set for bigger Australian GT presence
Latest news
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
2 h
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
2 h
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
3 h
Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 Can-Am drivers
General
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 Can-Am drivers
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe