#RaceToCare hits €100,000 fundraising target

The #RaceToCare programme set up by the World Touring Car Cup to help in the fight against COVID-19 has been successful in reaching its target of raising €100,000.

Contributions from drivers alongside funds from promoter Eurosport Events’ putting in ‘€1 per racing kilometre’ ensured that donations could be made to a range of different facilities based close to the six circuits that hosted rounds of the revised 2020 season.

“It was always our intention that when the time was right to return to racing after the first period of lockdown, we would do so with a clear purpose,” François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, said. “Without hesitation, supporting the work of healthcare professionals was our number one priority. They are doing an unbelievable job in the fight against COVID-19 and without these dedicated people there would have been no international motorsport last year.

“Our target of raising €100,000 was our way of giving something back. By donating €1 for every kilometre completed by every all-season driver in every qualifying session and race in 2020, and by pooling together donations from WTCR drivers, we are so pleased that we were able to achieve our shared goal.

“However, the COVID-19 fight is far from won so the WTCR family will continue to support the FIA’s #PurposeDriven movement and we look forward to announcing the next initiative under the WTCR Cares umbrella ahead of the 2021 WTCR season getting underway.”

The facilities that were able to benefit from the funds were:

WTCR Race of Belgium: UZ Leuven University Hospital
WTCR Race of Germany: Maria-Hilf Hospital, Daun
WTCR Race of Slovakia: Dunajská Streda Hospital
WTCR Race of Hungary: Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Hospital and Outpatient Clinic, Budapest
WTCR Race of Spain/WTCR Race of Aragón: Hospital Comarcal de Alcañiz and Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Aragón