GT Mk IV

Make
Ford
Segment
Coupe

Event after event has been canceled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe - from the Geneva Motor Show to the Formula 1 season-opener in Australia, we've had to sit by and witness as the coronavirus has sent the automotive world into disarray. Now, there's another victim, although fortunately, this time around it's just a postponement announcement and not a full-on cancellation. The 2020 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been postponed, but the 88th edition of the event will still be going ahead in 2020, meaning you can still watch your favorites like the Ford GT and Ferrari 488 GTE going at it.

Originally scheduled to take part on 13-14 June, the current situation has forced organizers to push back the dates. The new dates for the event are now the 19-20 September 2020, although this will still be evaluated nearer the time in the case that the pandemic isn't brought under control. France, like many other countries worldwide, has had strict restrictions imposed regarding large gatherings of people, in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

As a result, race organizer the Automobile Club de l'Ouest decided rather than canceling the highly anticipated race that it would rather postpone it. In a release, Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, stated that postponing the race is "now the most appropriate way forward in the current exceptional circumstances."

Delaying Le Mans has knock-on effects on other motoring events, too, and Fillion went on to say that, "The postponement of the 24 Hours of Le Mans means making changes to the WEC and ELMS calendars and we shall announce the new dates shortly. The safety and quality of our events will not be compromised."

It's a decision supported by the FIA and the World Endurance Championship (WEC) as well, with Gerard Neveu, CEO of FIA WEC and ELMS stating that "It is the right decision to delay in light of the current situation. We are now working on revising our WEC and ELMS calendars for the remainder of this season, and for the WEC's Season 9 which was due to start in September 2020."