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FIA urged to resolve surprise FE/WEC clash
Audi's Lucas di Grassi has called on the FIA to resolve the clash between the World Endurance Championship and Formula E that breaks a gentleman's agreement between the two series.
The WEC's announcement last weekend that it will return to the Nurburgring on July 16 next year goes against an understanding between the organizers of the two series to avoid clashes.
same weekend as the next FE season's Montreal double-header
.The FIA and FE declined to comment when contacted by Autosport and no comment was available from the WEC, but it is understood discussions are underway to try to avert the clash that would affect key names like di Grassi and Toyota LMP1 ace and Renault e.dams' FE champion Sebastien Buemi.
Di Grassi, who will remain with Abt Audi Sport in the electric single-seater series next season and hopes to stay on Audi's LMP1 books as well, said the announcement of a clashing date caught him by surprise.
"It caught a lot of people out," he told Autosport. "There must be a way of making the races not clash. We're only talking about 20 weekends, it's a lot but there's still room to avoid clashes. We'll try to push the organizers and the FIA to find a solution.
"There are some constraints for local promoters and sponsors; it's a complex decision. It's in the best interests of everyone that we have the best drivers in both. It's difficult, but possible."
The WEC calendar remains provisional until the World Motor Sport Council approves it, but the Formula E schedule announced earlier this month has already been rubber-stamped by an e-vote.
Di Grassi said failing to avoid a clash would leave drivers with "a horrible decision" to make.
"Imagine the situation where you have a bad beginning of the WEC season and you're fighting for the FE championship," he said. "I will then have to discuss with Audi what is the priority. Is it to fight for the championship or to do a WEC round that you could do with two drivers?
"At the moment it's not very clear what to do because Montreal is a double-header."
FORMULA E AND WEC DRIVER CROSSOVER
Driver | 2015/16 FE team | 2016 WEC program |
|---|---|---|
Sebastien Buemi | Renault e.dams | Toyota (LMP1) |
Lucas di Grassi | Abt Audi Sport | Audi (LMP1) |
Nicolas Prost | Renault e.dams | Rebellion (LMP1) |
Sam Bird | DS Virgin Racing | Ferrari (GTE) |
Stephane Sarrazin | Venturi | Toyota (LMP1) |
Loic Duval | Dragon Racing | Audi (LMP1) |
Nick Heidfeld | Mahindra | Rebellion (LMP1) |
Bruno Senna | Mahindra | RGR by Morand (LMP2) |
Nelson Piquet Jr | NEXTEV TCR | Rebellion( LMP1)** |
Mike Conway | Venturi | Toyota (LMP1) |
Nathanael Berthon | Team Aguri* | G-Drive Jota (LMP2)** |
Rene Rast | Team Aguri* | G-Drive Jota (LMP2) |
* Partial FE campaign
** Partial WEC campaign
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