North West 200 officially cancelled for 2020 due to coronavirus
Organisers of the North West 200 have confirmed the 2020 event has now been officially cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic


The outbreak of COVID-19 has utterly decimated the road racing calendar this year, with almost all national races in Ireland cancelled and all but one international event scrapped.
The NW200, which was due to begin on Tuesday with the first practice sessions, was postponed back in March to an indefinite date due to uncertainty caused by the virus.
It was thought a rescheduled event could take place in August in place of the Ulster Grand Prix, which has been cancelled due to financial woes in the wake of the worst-attended Dundrod meeting ever last year.
But NW200 organisers have now confirmed the event has been abandoned for this year, with a provisional 2021 date now lined up.
"On March 17, Coleraine and District Motor Club announced the 2020 fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200, scheduled for May 10-16, would be postponed following the government's introduction of restrictions to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic," a statement read.
"Since March the organisers of the NW200 have been in consultation with all of the relevant agencies to explore the possibility of running the event at a later date during 2020.
"We have corresponded with officials from the N.I. Executive as well as Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council plus all of the NW200's stakeholders, considering every option available to us should there be a suitable window of opportunity.

"Despite these efforts, it is now obvious the disruption and uncertainty the virus will continue to place on all of our lives and activities in the coming months will make it impossible to deliver the extensive planning required to run an event on the scale of the North West 200.
"That being the case, Coleraine and District Motor Club have taken the unfortunate but responsible and necessary decision to cancel the 2020 races.
"We apologise for any inconvenience this will cause for our competitors, volunteers and race fans.
"Provisionally, the 2021 fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils NW200 Race Week Festival has been scheduled for 9-15 May."
As well as the NW200 and Ulster GP, the Isle of Man TT has also been lost for this year.
There had been hopes racing would still be has on the Island this year with August's Classic TT.
However, this was officially cancelled last week.
Organisers for the Cookstown 100 in Northern Ireland remain hopeful of hosting the postponed event in September, while as it stands November's Macau Grand Prix will be the only international road race this year.

TT News: 16-time TT winner Hutchinson returns to TAS Racing for 2020
Virtual Isle of Man TT Esports event launched, Hickman heads line-up

Latest news
Horner admits Red Bull’s real RB19 will be ‘somewhat different’
Red Bull boss Christian Horner says the real RB19 that will appear in Formula 1 testing in Bahrain later this month will be ‘somewhat different'.
Horner hints at closer links between Mercedes and Williams F1 teams
Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has hinted that there could be a closer relationship between the Mercedes and Williams Formula 1 teams in the wake of James Vowles’s move.
Ford remains committed to WRC amid F1 return
Ford has stated that it remains committed to its programme in the World Rally Championship following confirmation of its return to Formula 1 as an engine supplier from 2026.
Dixon: Ganassi found two "big things" to improve IndyCar form
Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon says Chip Ganassi Racing has focused on improving its road course form after inconsistencies last season, and believes there has been breakthroughs for 2023.
Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2022
The season just gone was a memorable one for many of our staff writers, who are fortunate enough to cover motorsport around the world. Here are our picks of the best (and in some cases, most eventful) from 2022
How a much-needed 'revolution' is key to a motorsport gem's future
OPINION: The Isle of Man TT is one of motorsport’s oldest events and one of its most revered. After a COVID-enforced two-year hiatus, the TT is back in 2022 and for the first time will be broadcast live, a much-needed move that will help to address some of the fundamental problems it faces
How the world's fastest road racer is helping Britain's motorcycling future
Britain has dominated motorcycle racing for three decades, but its representation at the top table is in decline. Looking to provide fresh energy and opportunity in the junior ranks, the world's fastest road racer Peter Hickman may have found a solution
The far-reaching impact of cancelling motorcycling's greatest race
The coronavirus-induced cancellation of the Isle of Man TT was unavoidable, but as thoughts turn to its return in 2021, the ramifications could be felt for a long time yet
How the IoM TT's greatest race was won
In our final feature looking back at the major motorsport moments from the 2010s, we recall a day at the 2018 Isle of Man TT that featured broken records and the making of a new star of the motorbike road racing scene
What went wrong with McGuinness's TT comeback
John McGuinness targeted scoring a podium "at least" with Norton at the Isle of Man TT, but his return to the island - in the major classes at least - could scarcely have gone worse. What next for the veteran after his most disappointing TT?
What the TT means to those who have braved it
OPINION: The Isle of Man TT is an event like few others in motorsport - and it has a reputation for being incredibly dangerous. But to those involved in the competition, it has a completely different standing
The unavoidable headache challenging TT organisers
For much of the 2019 Isle of Man TT fortnight so far, the weather has dominated the headlines as rain has forced a series of delays and cancellations. This may be frustrating to fans, but stems from the unique challenge that makes the event a motorsport gem
Subscribe and access Autosport.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.