The FIA World Endurance Championship finale, the 8 Hours of Bahrain, has been moves forward one week to accommodate F1’s newly announced double header. The date change has created a date clash with the 12 Hours of Sebring, IMSA’s season finale.
The eight-hour enduro at the Bahrain International Circuit was originally scheduled for Saturday 21 November, but will instead now take place on 14 November.
The change was made to create more space between Formula One and the WEC after F1 announced a double header event at the venue, held on November 29 and December 6.
The schedule change creates a clash with the postponed edition of the Twelve Hours of Sebring, which IMSA moved to the autumn date after the March event was struck by the COVID-19 pandemic.
WEC CEO Gerard Neveu has said he acknowledges the scheduling clash between the two events brought on by the changes, but believes the clash will have a ‘minimal impact.’
“We are very fortunate that Bahrain International Circuit is ready and willing to be so accommodating and, indeed, welcoming to the WEC in what will be an extremely busy period for them,” Neveu commented.
“It is, of course, less fortunate that the date now clashes with IMSA’s Twelve Hours of Sebring, but the compressed racing schedules in the second half of the year have been brought about due to an unprecedented situation and we believe there will be minimal impact on both series.
“Our overriding concern continues to be for everyone’s good health, and we are taking as many precautions as possible to ensure that we can all experience a happy and healthy end to Season 8.”