Controversy over Alonso-inspired change
THE CLAMOUR FROM MULTIPLE DRIVERS resulted in the date of the Fuji round of the 2018-19 World Endurance Championship being changed to avoid a clash with the Petit Le Mans IMSA Sportscar enduro. Now a push from a single manufacturer has resulted in the event being switched back to its original October 14 slot for the benefit of just one driver, who goes by the name of Fernando Alonso.
The volte-face by the WEC at the behest of Toyota – which owns the Fuji Speedway – to avoid a conflict with the US Grand Prix and allow Alonso to contest all five 2018 dates of the superseason has inevitably sparked controversy. More so because it means that the Japanese WEC race falls on the same day as the Super GT round at Autopolis, which had switched from October 21 after Fuji was moved to that date in the original reshuffle last September. However, there was speculation that the Autopolis race will be moved back a week as Autosport closed for press.
There has been no shortage of drivers with deals to race in both the WEC and the longdistance rounds of the IMSA Sportscar Championship who have gone public with their displeasure. Ganassi Ford WEC driver Olivier Pla, who was due to race for the Extreme Speed Motorsports prototype squad in the four IMSA enduros that make up the North American Endurance Cup, was among those who were critical of the about-turn by the series.
“I’m not happy, but I am not the only one,” said the Frenchman. “When there was a clash on the first version of the calendar, we went to the WEC and asked them to change it. When they did, I went back to them and thanked them.
“But to change it after the IMSA season has started, after we’ve all signed deals, isn’t nice and isn’t fair. I understand that they have done it for Alonso, but they have put a lot of drivers, maybe as many as 10, in a difficult situation.”
Others affected by the switch include WEC regulars Harry Tincknell, Nicolas Lapierre and Gianmaria Bruni. Toyota will also be affected if there is no change of the Autopolis Super GT date. Both Kazuki Nakajima and
Kamui Kobayashi are racing in Super GT in
Japan this year with the TOM’S and SARD
Lexus teams respectively.
Even Jenson Button, who will be racing in Super GT this season with the Kunimitsu Honda squad, weighed into the debate. “It’s a shame that a race is changed for one driver when the change hurts so many other drivers who have contracts in place, but also other categories like IMSA and Super GT where a clash will hurt their fan base,” he tweeted.
The second switch of the date of the Fuji race has been staunchly defended by WEC boss Gerard Neveu. He said that his first responsibility was to “protect the interests of the championship”.
“How can you imagine having someone like
Alonso in your paddock, racing for Toyota, and saying that we are going to Japan without him?” explained Neveu. “Fernando wants to fight for the world championship; he cannot miss one race. It was logical. There was no question of
[not having] Alonso in Japan.
“When you take a decision like this, you know always some people will be happy and some will be unhappy. It made sense for us to do it and
I am very sorry for drivers who have a clash.”
Neveu insisted that IMSA understood why the WEC had gone back on its original decision.
“They were informed several weeks ago and fully understand,” he said. “Because they had Alonso at the Daytona 24 Hours [driving for United Autosports], they have a good estimation of the added value of a driver like this in your paddock.”
Neveu said that he hoped that Petit could move from its October 13 slot to avoid the Fuji clash. The 10-hour Road Atlanta enduro falls a week later than last year, and there is a five-week gap after the preceding Laguna Seca IMSA round.
But IMSA ruled out any switch at this late stage. “The WEC did ask IMSA to change the date of this year’s Motul Petit Le Mans and
IMSA did respectfully consider this request and explored doing so,” said a spokesman.
“Due to some factors such as television coverage, IMSA’S year-end banquet on the same weekend, and competitor and manufacturer logistics already being in place, it was determined there were too many hurdles to overcome to move the event.”
That is a matter-of-fact statement from an organisation with long-term links to WEC promoter the Automobile Club de l’ouest. It perhaps hints at displeasure with the WEC’S U-turn to accommodate the needs of Toyota and Alonso at a time when the ACO is trying to deepen those links.
The ACO and the FIA are working on a new set of LMP1 rules to come into force for the 2020-21 WEC winter season. The WEC promoter is pushing for IMSA to adopt these rules at the end of the lifecycle of its existing prototype class in ’22.
The WEC was caught between a rock and a hard place over the Fuji date. It has effectively favoured appeasing the only manufacturer left in LMP1 over fostering its relationship with its North American partner.
It might smack of short-termism, but
Alonso offers a massive PR punch for the series in a rebuilding phase. It couldn’t allow him to miss his employer’s home race.
“Fernando wants to fight for the title. This is logical”