The Week That Was In Motorsport: June 15-21

The last seven days in the world of motorsport has seen difficult times for former grand prix driver Alex Zanardi, who was involved in an accident during one of the stages of the Paralympic handbike ‘Obiettivo tricolore.' The 53-year old Italian has been hospitalised at the polyclinic Santa Maria alle Scotte in Siena since June 19 and has undergone three hours of neurosurgery and maxillofacial surgery to treat his head injuries. Reports from the hospital on Saturday have revealed that Zanardi is serious but stable. But they have remained tight lipped on the prognosis. 

Formula One 

With the season opener in Austria only a couple of weeks away now, F1 has launched the #WeRaceAsOne initiative to tackle two major factors currently facing the sport and global communities--- the COVID-19 pandemic and global inequality. Some of the initial steps that will be introduced at the season opener in Austria will display rainbows on cars and around the circuit as well as visual displays of support in the fight against racism, with more pledges to increase diversity and opportunity in the sport in the works. 

Lewis Hamilton himself has been tackling racial injustice with the launch of The Hamilton Commission in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering. This commission aims to explore how motorsport can be used as a vehicle to engage more young people from black backgrounds with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. The six-time F1 world champion was also at Hyde Park today for the peaceful protests supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

Aside from that, Racing Point and Renault conducted their own private tests at Silverstone and Austria respectively, with Ferrari set to have their own private test in a 2018-spec car at Mugello on June 23. The FIA World Motor Sport Council has also approved revisions to the F1 Sporting regulations which covers areas of revised race weekend protocols in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

MotoGP

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With Jack Miller set to join Ducati in 2021, Danilo Petrucci confirmed his exit from the Ducati squad at the end of the year. And now reports reveal that Petrucci has been in talks with KTM for a ride next season. And latest reports suggest that the deal has already been set for 2021. 

WSBK 

Jonathan Rea has signed a new multi-year contract extension with Kawasaki. The duration of the contract extension is unknown, but it is said to be a two year contract. Since joining KRT from Ten Kate Honda in 2015, Jonathan Rea has won 74 times with the Japanese manufacturer, taking his tally to 89 wins and five titles to establish himself statistically as the greatest WSBK rider in history.

Aside from this, a provisional calendar for the remainder of 2020 has been revealed. Racing action resumes on August 2 at Jerez, with WSBK heading to Portimao a week later, the last confirmed round is the seventh race of the season at Magny-Cours, France on October 4. Depending on the coronavirus situation and official confirmations, the 2020 season is tentatively set to head to Argentina next on October 11, followed by Misano Italy on Novemeber 8. The remaining races at Donington, Assen and Losail are yet to receive confirmations or a scheduled date. 

Formula E

Formula-E has finally revealed its revised racing calendar and we can tell you that it's another level of crazy. Six consecutive races will be hosted at the Tempelhof Airport in Berlin to finish off the 2019-2020 season. Formula-E was already mid-way through the season with five rounds completed when the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to the season. The season resumes on August 6, with the finale occuring on August 13. 

WRC 

While the coronavirus pandemic has severely affected events all over, there was some good news for WRC. Global TV audiences soared by 15 per cent year-on-year during the opening three rounds of the 2020 season at Rallye Monte-Carlo, Rally Sweden and Rally Guanajuato Mexico. These figures mark a consistent growth since the 2013 season. Finland, France, Spain, Belgium and Sweden were the top five audience markets. 

WEC

A revised timetable has been revealed for the 24hrs of LeMans FIA World Endurance Championship round scheduled for September 19-20. Some of the revisions include practice and qualifying being held on Thursday and Friday and free practice time being reduced from 12 hours to 11 hours. All these changes have been made as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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