Confirmed: Formula E race in China postponed due to coronavirus
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
The Formula E have confirmed the Sanya E-Prix, the sport's race in China, has been postponed due to the spread of the coronavirus, with no alternative date having been given yet.
The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak in China a public health emergency on Thursday. With the Sanya E-Prix coming up next month, the FIA and Formula E have decided to postpone the race until further notice.
The race was supposed to take place on March 21st. Should the situation not improve, the race in Sanya could be cancelled altogether and replaced by either an extra round in New York at the end of the season or an extra European round.
"Given the current growing health concerns and with the World Health Organisation declaring the coronavirus an international emergency, Formula E has taken the necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of its travelling staff, championship participants and spectators, which remains of paramount importance," the statement on the Formula E's website reads.
"We are working closely with our regional partner and the local authorities in Hainan Province and Sanya Municipal Government, to continue monitoring the situation as it develops. All parties will take the appropriate amount of time to study the viability of potential alternative dates should the situation improve."
Whether the coronavirus could impact the Chinese Grand Prix, which is set to take place on April 19th, is not known yet.