Rallying-Argentina cancelled, Estonia to re-start WRC season in September

World Rally Championship (WRC) organisers cancelled Argentina's postponed round on Thursday while announcing the season, halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, would re-start in Estonia in September. It will be the first time Estonia, home of reigning world champion Ott Taenak, has featured on the WRC calendar.

World Rally Championship (WRC) organizers canceled Argentina's postponed round on Thursday while announcing the season, halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, would re-start in Estonia in September. It will be the first time Estonia, home of reigning world champion Ott Taenak, has featured on the WRC calendar. The short-format gravel rally based around Tartu is scheduled for Sept. 4-6.

The revised schedule published on Thursday sees Turkey following on from Estonia on Sept. 24-27. Germany's round will be on Oct. 15-18, with Italy (Sardinia) on Oct. 29-Nov. 1 after being postponed from June while Japan is scheduled to end the season on Nov. 19-22.

Rallies in Belgium and Croatia could also feature with talks ongoing. The championship completed three rounds in Monte-Carlo, Sweden, and Mexico before the new coronavirus sent countries into lockdown.

Six times world champion Sebastien Ogier leads the standings for Toyota. "Today’s restart announcement sends a clear signal that the 2020 WRC is back in business," said WRC promoter managing director Oliver Ciesla in a statement.

FIA rally director Yves Matton said he was confident there would be a minimum of eight rallies this year.

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