FIA president Jean Todt says the governing body will try to avoid any clash between the 2021 F1 calendar and next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours.
This year’s Le Mans 24 Hours was originally scheduled for June 13th to 14th, when it would have clashed with the Canadian Grand Prix. The postponed race is taking place this weekend, in between F1’s Tuscan and Russian grands prix.Todt said it is a matter of “goodwill” between the two series whether any clashes can be avoided in 2021.
“Yesterday the FIA announced the WEC calendar with six races and you know how difficult it can be at the moment to establish a calendar,” he said. “And on that, I want to highlight all the success which had been done to be able to host racing, whatever are the categories, in 2020.
“Clearly, we will do as much as we can to avoid a clash between WEC and Formula 1. So that’s something we will do our best.
“But of course it can also depend where will be Formula 1 located because the time zone has some importance. So we will do the best effort but that’s the maximum I can tell you.”
2021 World Endurance Championship calendar
| Race | Event | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1000 Miles of Sebring | USA |
| 2 | Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps | Belgium |
| 3 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | France |
| 4 | Six Hours of Monza | Italy |
| 5 | Six Hours of Fuji | Japan |
| 6 | Six Hours of Bahrain | Bahrain |
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Kaylee911 (@kaylee911)
19th September 2020, 21:01
I hope Silverstone doesn’t clash with Carfest North in 2021 as well as I’ve got tickets for both. (That’s if the virus doesn’t spoil things)
StephenH
19th September 2020, 21:09
No Silverstone ON the WEC calendar is a travesty.
James
19th September 2020, 21:47
https://imgflip.com/i/4fkrng
Jere (@jerejj)
19th September 2020, 21:47
Easier said than done, of course. Nevertheless, the Canadian GP and Le Mans 24H on the same weekend wouldn’t face a direct clash due to the time difference between Montreal and Le Mans, so no problem should the next Canadian GP take place on June 13.
Holmzini
19th September 2020, 21:58
Respect the level of racing we are talking about. The only logical thing to do is to come to an agreement that meets the needs of both organizations. It would be good for not only fans but for the sponsors who are attracted by both programs.
To HAVE to have THAT date with no flexibility, with no understanding of the others needs and at all costs is something that we seem to hear from America far to much.
But the reality is this. We all need to find flexibility in our Covis World so seeing both the WEC and F1 figure it out would be healthy for all of us.
It’s the right thing to do.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
19th September 2020, 23:17
Clash or not they better get the hypercar thing right because this year has been the weakest ever. Only 5 LMP1 cars and only 3 manufacturers in the GT classes.
Dave
20th September 2020, 8:00
Following Baku 2016 clashing with Le Mans, we should never have one again.
Jere (@jerejj)
22nd September 2020, 11:25
@Dave People made an unnecessary big fuss out of that anyway as there simply wasn’t a chance to avoid having them on the same weekend once the need for retaining the traditional summer-break gap appeared. Furthermore, as I pointed out in my post above, no problem with the Canadian GP thanks to the time difference between Montreal and Le Mans, which guaranteed on all of those past occasions they shared a weekend that there wouldn’t be any direct timing clash and the same would be the case in the future as well, so no point in making a fuss if they were to share a weekend again at some point.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
20th September 2020, 13:40
Now that Alpine have a car in the top class at Le Mans (they’re planning to use Rebellion’s car in 2021) they might want their lead driver to take part in both…