Formula 1's Updated 2020 Schedule Is Here

From Road & Track

Welcome to The Grid, R&T's quick roundup of the auto industry and motorsports news you should know this morning.

Here's The First Part of Formula 1's Updated 2020 Schedule

As I'm sure you're aware, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the 2020 Formula 1 season significantly, and the series is doing what it can to still hold a world championship this year. Today, F1 confirmed dates for the first eight rounds of the 2020 championship, which will all be held in Europe behind closed doors.

As expected, the season kicks off July 5th with back-t0-back weekends in Austria, then heads to Hungary's Hungaroring. There was a fear that the series might not be able to race in Great Britian, but it seems things have worked out, because there will be two rounds held at Silverstone. Afterwards, F1 will race at Barcelona, Spa, and Monza. Further dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

GM and Ford Shortening Summer Breaks to Crank Out More Cars

Typically, Ford and GM shut down some plants for a few weeks every summer. But with apparently strong demand after months of not building cars, GM is cancelling its usual two-week summer break for some plants, and Ford is shortening its break to one week. Automotive Newsreports that this isn't the case for all the two company's plants, just those making products in demand. FCA hasn't yet announced if it's going to do the same as the other members of the Detroit Three.

Bentley Builds Its Last 6.75-Liter V-8

With the big Bentley Mulsanne leaving production for good, one of the oldest V-8s out there is coming to an end. Yesterday, Bentley built its last 6.75-liter V-8. The "L-Series" engine has its origins in the pushrod V-8 designed for Rolls-Royce and Bentley back in the late Fifties. Over the years, the engine has been enlarged significantly, turbocharged, and modernized, but the basic bones are ancient. Bentley said over 60,000 L-series engines were built over the years, and while that's nothing compared to, say, a GM small block, it's still an important mill.

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