Title: Race Session Countdown Author: nowaxik Published: August 26, 2026 Last modified: August 26, 2026 --- Search plugins ![](https://ps.w.org/race-session-countdown/assets/banner-772x250.png?rev=3667513) ![](https://ps.w.org/race-session-countdown/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=3667513) # Race Session Countdown By [nowaxik](https://profiles.wordpress.org/nowaxik/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/race-session-countdown.2.2.0.zip) * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/race-session-countdown/#description) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/race-session-countdown/#reviews) * [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/race-session-countdown/#installation) * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/race-session-countdown/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/race-session-countdown/) ## Description Race Session Countdown displays the active or next Formula 1 session and updates the countdown every second. The bundled schedule uses ISO 8601 UTC timestamps, while the weekend list follows the timezone configured in WordPress. Features: * Real-time countdown with active-session and season-over states. * Google Calendar link and locally generated ICS calendar file. * Multiple countdown widgets on the same page. * Next-weekend session list in the WordPress site timezone. * Optional per-recipient WP-Cron email reminders during the hour before a session. * Configurable recipient roles and message templates. * Bounded delivery logs with WordPress personal-data export and erasure support. * Accessible, responsive output with no remotely loaded scripts or styles. Shortcodes: * `[racesessioncountdown]` displays the countdown. * `[racesessioncountdown_weekend_sessions]` displays the next race-weekend schedule. The 2026 schedule is bundled with this release. Event dates can change after publication, so update the plugin when a schedule update becomes available and verify important dates against an official source. This is an unofficial, independently developed plugin. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Formula 1, Formula One Management, the FIA, Google, Apple or Microsoft. All product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. ### External services The plugin offers an optional Google Calendar link. Data is sent only after the visitor clicks that link. Google receives the event title, start and end times, and the text “Race Session Countdown” as URL parameters. Use of Google Calendar is subject to the [Google Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Google Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms). The plugin does not call a Formula 1 API and does not automatically load code, fonts, images or tracking pixels from third parties. Email is sent through the standard WordPress `wp_mail()` system and the mail transport configured by the site owner. ### Privacy The plugin does not collect visitor data or perform tracking. Email reminders are disabled by default. When reminders are enabled, the plugin uses email addresses belonging to registered WordPress users in the roles selected by an administrator. Delivery logs store the recipient email address, message subject and body, time, type and delivery result. Logs are limited to the latest 100 entries, are visible only to administrators with the `manage_options` capability, and can be cleared from the plugin settings page. Reminder-log data is included in the WordPress personal-data export and can be removed with the WordPress personal-data eraser. Uninstalling the plugin removes its settings, logs, scheduled task and temporary reminder markers. ## Screenshots [⌊Countdown and next-weekend schedule displayed together on a public page.⌉⌊Countdown and next-weekend schedule displayed together on a public page.⌉[ Countdown and next-weekend schedule displayed together on a public page. ## Installation 1. Upload the `race-session-countdown` directory to `/wp-content/plugins/`, or install the ZIP in Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin. 2. Activate Race Session Countdown. 3. Add `[racesessioncountdown]` or `[racesessioncountdown_weekend_sessions]` to a page, post or shortcode-enabled widget. 4. Optional: configure email reminders in Settings > Race Session Countdown. Reminders are disabled by default. ## FAQ ### What timezone does the plugin use? Schedule data is stored in UTC. The countdown and calendar links represent the same instant for every visitor. Weekend lists use the timezone configured under Settings > General in WordPress. ### Will reminders work on a low-traffic site? WP-Cron normally runs when the site receives requests. For reliable delivery on a low-traffic site, configure the server to request `wp-cron.php` at least every five minutes. ### Are email reminders enabled automatically? No. An administrator must enable them and select recipient roles. Enable reminders only when you have a lawful basis and permission to email those users. ### Does the plugin send data to an external service? No external request is made automatically. When a visitor explicitly selects Google Calendar, the browser opens Google Calendar with the event title, time and plugin description in the URL. The ICS option generates and downloads a file locally in the browser. ### How is the schedule updated? The schedule is a local JSON file shipped with each plugin release. Install a newer plugin release when an updated schedule becomes available. ## Reviews There are no reviews for this plugin. ## Contributors & Developers “Race Session Countdown” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ nowaxik ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/nowaxik/) [Translate “Race Session Countdown” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/race-session-countdown) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/race-session-countdown/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/race-session-countdown/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/race-session-countdown/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/race-session-countdown/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 2.2.0 – 2026-08-17 * Prepared the plugin for WordPress.org under neutral project branding. * Updated the Tested up to header for WordPress 7.1. * Replaced the short internal prefix with the unique `racesessioncountdown_` prefix across functions, constants, options, hooks and shortcodes. * Aligned author metadata with the WordPress.org owner account and removed the defunct external author URL. * Changed the source language to English and aligned the text domain with the release slug. * Made email reminders opt-in for new installations. * Added WordPress personal-data exporter and eraser integration for reminder logs. * Removed third-party calendar icon files and replaced them with accessible text controls. * Improved privacy and external-service documentation. * Retained the UTC, calendar, multi-widget, accessibility and validation fixes from 2.1.0. ## Meta * Version **2.2.0** * Last updated **1 week ago** * Active installations **Fewer than 10** * WordPress version ** 5.3 or higher ** * Tested up to **7.1** * PHP version ** 7.4 or higher ** * Tags * [calendar](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/calendar/)[countdown](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/countdown/) [f1](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/f1/)[schedule](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/schedule/) * [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/race-session-countdown/advanced/) ## Ratings No reviews have been submitted yet. [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/race-session-countdown/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/race-session-countdown/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ nowaxik ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/nowaxik/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/race-session-countdown/)