As the novel coronavirus pandemic and the COVID-19 disease it can cause spreads around the globe, public events are being postponed or canceled, including auto shows, motorsports events, and other gatherings you might have had plans for this spring and summer. Here, we’ve gathered every major development from the coronavirus’ fallout and impact on the car world. Already, we’ve seen fuel prices fluctuate, auto shows and sports events canceled, and we are bracing for a slowdown in car sales and new-car launches. We will keep updating this list as more announcements come in, so check back here for the latest:
March 12, 2020: Nuts! Planters follows Oscar-Mayer and puts the NUTmobile back on the shelf for the time being.
March 12, 2020: Out of an a-bun-dance of caution, the folks at Oscar-Mayer have decided to pull the Wienermobile off of the “hot dog highway.” Not the wurst news we’ve heard today, but we do not relish this update.
March 12, 2020: The FIA, Formula 1, and Australian Grand Prix Corporation announce the cancellation of all Formula 1 activity for the Australian Grand Prix, which was set to race this Sunday, March 15.
March 12, 2020: Although Formula Drift Holdings, LLC has yet to formally cancel Formula D Long Beach, which was set to be contested April 10-11, the City of Long Beach has issued orders to cancel and/or postpone all events with an estimated attendance of 250 or more, through April 2020.
March 12, 2020: The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, originally set to take place April 17-19, is canceled until further notice as organizers examine rescheduling options.
March 12, 2020: Radwood postpones the remainder of its 2020 schedule “until further notice”.
March 12, 2020: Barrett-Jackson announces its Palm Beach, Florida auction is rescheduled from April 16-18, 2020 to October 15-17, 2020.
March 12, 2020: The Vancouver Auto Show, originally scheduled for the end of March, is postponed. A new date has not been announced.
March 12, 2020: IndyCar announces that this weekend’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be closed to spectators.
March 12, 2020: NASCAR announces that upcoming races in Atlanta, Georgia, and Homestead, Miami will be held without the presence of fans in attendance.
March 12, 2020: The NHRA postpones a portion of the Gatornationals that was set to run Thursday, March 12 through Sunday, March 15. The Sportsman and Top Sportsman categories will go as scheduled, but without spectators in the stands. Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Mod, Factory Stock Showdown, Top Alcohol Dragster, and Top Alcohol Funny Car will be postponed and completed at a later date yet to be determined.
March 12, 2020: F9, the ninth installment in the Fast and Furious series, is postponed from May 22, 2020, to April 2, 2021.
March 12, 2020: The 12 Hours of Sebring is postponed from the weekend of March 18, 2020, to the weekend of November 11, 2020.
March 11, 2020: The New York International Auto Show is rescheduled from early April to late August.
March 11, 2020: The International Motorcycle Federation (FIM) postpones the MotoGP Argentia Grand Prix, which was set to take place from the 17th to the 19th of April. The event is rescheduled for later in the season and will take place from the 20th to the 22nd of November, 2020.
March 4, 2020: The release of the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die, is postponed from April 10, 2020, to November 25, 2020.
