Following the opening round of the World Endurance Championship at Le Mans, the 8-Hour Race at Oschersleben as part of German Speedweek has now also been postponed to a later date due to the COVID-19 situation. Originally, the only German round of the Endurance World Championship was scheduled to take place from May 20 to 23, 2021, at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben—accompanied by the IDM races of the IDM Superbike 1000, IDM Supersport 600, as well as the junior class IDM Supersport and various cups. The IDM program remains on track for the Oschersleben event. It is scheduled to take place from May 21 to 23.
“We’re doing everything we can to make sure the IDM program goes ahead,” says race director Ottmar Bange, adding, “but not starting on Wednesday—it will start on Friday.” Everyone involved wants the event to take place. We have already submitted a corresponding hygiene plan to the relevant health and public order authorities. As things stand, there is no reason why the IDM race weekend shouldn’t go ahead, even if it has to take place without spectators.”
Organizers are looking for a new, and above all later, date in the summer for the World Endurance Championship. The organizer and the FIM, the governing body of motorcycle racing, are determined to keep the German Speedweek on the calendar. The organizer, the FIM, and Eurosport Events are already looking for possible later dates in the summer so that the German Speedweek can remain on the 2021 calendar. Currently, too many health regulations and quarantine measures are throwing a wrench in the works, not least because the opening race at Le Mans is scheduled to be rescheduled for June 12–13. France went into lockdown for the third time in some regions at the beginning of the month.