Sam Bird has said that Formula E takes preference over the FIA World Endurance Championship amidst three calendar clashes between the two series next season.
The 32-year-old currently drives for Envision Virgin Racing in Formula E and contested the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship for AF Corse alongside and will remain in the prior series next season.
For Formula E's Season 6 calendar, a total of three race weekends clash with WEC races, with December's currently TBC round clashing with the Eight Hours of Bahrain, the series' second race in China on March 21 clashing with the 12 Hours of Sebring and the inaugural Seoul E-Prix clashing with the Six Hours of Spa.
Sam Bird is one of a number of drivers who are impacted by said clashes, with reigning FIA World Endurance Champion and Season 2 Formula E champion Sebastien Buemi included.
Looking at the scheduled clashes, Bird couldn't understand how it had happened and emphasised his preference to race in Formula E over his GTE-Pro commitments with AF Corse:
"I thought that they would be avoiding clashes from years ago. I don’t understand why and how this has happened," he told Motorsport Week.
"It makes it very difficult for myself as a manufacturer driver in WEC. Formula E takes preference but it’s been a very difficult situation on that side.
"Right now there are three clashes. Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we’ll know if that’s three, two one or none but the fewer clashes there are the better it is for everybody to be honest."
It is understood that the FIA, Formula E and WEC are working on a fix at present ahead of the start of the 2019/20 season which will commence on November 22 while the campaign will reach its finale on the weekend of July 25 and 26 in London – a weekend that Bird is excited about:
"That’ll be very exciting!" added Bird. "I’ve heard that the track is great as well so it’s very exciting to get back there. It’s been a long time since Season 2 so I’m very much looking forward to it."
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