Another huge event clash effects WEC and Formula E drivers

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another clash with wec and formula e effects it's drivers
11 June at 18:30
  • GPblog.com

There really was no other option, the organisers of Formula E and the World Endurance Championship (WEC) said. Formula E and the WEC had their races at the same weekend this year. For former F1 driver Nyck de Vries, who drove 11 races for AlphaTauri last season, this was a big problem as he now competes in both classes. The clash has caused considerable irritation for several other ex-F1 drivers, such as Sebastien Buemi, Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne.  and now it appears that in 2025 it will happen again.

This season, the WEC race at Spa-Francorchamps and two Formula E races in Berlin were completed on the same weekend. Drivers with a double programme thus had to choose by necessity: Belgium or Germany? Robin Frijns, the former Sauber and Caterham test and reserve driver who now drives in both the WEC and Formula E, expressed his frustration in a conversation with GPblog: "Nobody wins with this. It was a discussion because nobody wanted to shift and people said, 'We are better'. It was really a mess. Hopefully, they realise they made a mistake and it can't happen again next year."

Another clash between WEC and Formula E

Formula E announced its calendar for 2025 on Tuesday, and two Berlin ePrix are scheduled for the weekend of 12/13 July. That is exactly the same weekend as a WEC race in Sao Paulo, Brazil. So Frijns, De Vries, but also Sebastien Buemi, Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Eric Vergne will have to choose again; provided, of course, they remain active in both series.

"We’ve tried desperately to avoid everything, both sides, and we end up with Interlagos as a clash with the Berlin race. It’s unavoidable for us, so what we are doing is giving plenty of notice to both championships’ teams, both manufacturers and drivers, there will be drivers that obviously create conflict and they’ll have to make choices,” responded Jeff Dodds, Formula E's CEO.

The 'crown jewel' in endurance racing is approaching. The Le Mans 24 Hours is taking place this weekend, from June 15 to 16. Ferrari will be looking to defend their 2023 title. Former Alfa Romeo F1 driver and longtime Ferrari test and reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi won in his Ferrari 499P, alongside fellow Italian Alessandro Pier Guidi and Brit James Calado